‘Our Livelihood is Gone Overnight; No Tourist, No Earnings!’ Pahalgam Terror Attack Ruins Kashmir’s Tourism

"In just the last two days, nearly 95% of our business has been affected. This attack was very unfortunate. Our survival depends completely on tourism, and now everything has stopped. Tourists are leaving because they are scared. If there are no tourists, how will we earn? For many of us, tourism is not just a business, it is our bread and butter," said Tanvir Ahmed, a local cab driver who has a transportation business in the Kashmir Valley.

Pahalgam Terror Attack Aftermath

A deadly attack happened on Tuesday in Pahalgam, a popular tourist spot in Jammu and Kashmir. Armed militants fired at a group of tourists in a famous meadow of Kashmir valley. At least 26 people were killed, including two foreign tourists and two locals. This is the worst attack in the region since the Pulwama attack in 2019.

The attack has created fear among travellers and badly affected the tourism industry. Tourism is a lifeline for the people of Kashmir. Many people including tour operators, hoteliers, cab drivers, photographers, and shopkeepers etc, are facing heavy losses as tourists cancel their plans and leave the area quickly. This attack has put thousands of jobs and businesses at risk. Hotel workers, pony owners, artisans, taxi drivers, and many others now have no work.

A pony owner in Pahalgam, who requested anonymity, said the attack had led to a mass departure of tourists. "Because of this attack, the tourists who were here have already left, and those who were planning to come will not come now," he said.

We tried to speak with several locals in Pahalgam about the impact of the terror attack on their businesses, but many declined to comment.

Over 60% Hotel Bookings Cancelled in Pahalgam: Report

Tourism professionals have experienced the impact of the Pahalgam terror attack. Jyoti Mayal, Chairperson of the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), told The New Indian Express that hotel cancellations in Pahalgam have crossed 60 percent. "I spoke to a couple of hotels in Pahalgam. They said most of their bookings have been cancelled, more than 60 percent so far," she said, adding that the incident is likely to be a major setback for the entire industry.

Flights Run at Full Capacity From Srinagar Airport

The recent terror attack has triggered widespread panic among tourists, leading to a sharp rise in visitors leaving Srinagar. Around 7,432 passengers left Srinagar airport between 6 am and 5 pm on April 23, while only 4,640 passengers arrived during the same period. Officials reported that flights were operating at full capacity, reflecting the surge in demand as travellers rushed to leave the Kashmir Valley, as per CNBC-TV18 report.

IndiGo operated 25 flights with nearly 100% occupancy on April 23. Flights to Mumbai, Amritsar, and Hyderabad were all full. Air India Express ran 12 flights to cities like Jammu, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, all at full capacity. SpiceJet operated 8 flights with nearly full occupancy, while Air India had 4 flights, all at full capacity. Akasa Air also flew two flights to Mumbai, both with nearly full occupancy.

Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu convened an emergency meeting with airline operators on Wednesday. He issued a strict advisory against surge pricing on flights to and from Srinagar. The Ministry of Civil Aviation directed airlines to maintain reasonable fares and operate additional flights to manage the sudden increase in passenger demand.