Immediately afterwards, tourists began from the city, leaving streets and roads mysteriously deserted | Photo credit: Imran Nissar /The Hindu
After Pahalgam’s terrorist attack, local companies have begun to feel the squeeze of tourist operators and hotels reserves that witness a decrease.
However, Bassed Trade Organizations said that the loss of beautiful human lives far exceeds any economic conerns.
The attack has caused an increase in hotels reserves cancellations, partly in popular tourist destinations such as Pahalgam and Gulmarg.
Immediately consequences, tourists beg when leaving the city in large quantities, leaving the streets and mysterious deserts.
Umar Rashid, manager of the Black Pearl hotel in Pahalgam, said that all the guests had reviewed and that the next reservations were also being canceled. Hotels in Gulmarg are also witnessing reservations, after the horrible terrorist attack, killing 27 tourists, including two foreign citizens.
Mohammad Sharif, a Gulmarg hotelier, said that since the morning he had received multiple emails to cancel tourists who plan to visit the Valley.
Tourist operators also hit
Tourist operators also report a burst of cancellations with several scheduled group tours that are postponed or completely canceled.
Mudassir Ahmad, owner of Al-Midhad Tour and Travels, said the attack had begun to affect reserves. “A tour party from UP, already on the way to Kashmir, canceled his trip after the attack,” he said.
Deplore the attack against tourists, president or association of operators Tour of the Cashmiro de la India (Toai), Nasir Wani, said Business line That such acts of violence undermined the spirit of hospitality and peace. “We urge the authorities to take quick and decisive measures to guarantee the safety of all visits and residents,” Wani said.
The tourism sector saw remarkable growth in 2024, attracting a record of 2.36 million visitors, including 65,000 abroad.
Religious tourism also through 5.12 Lakh Devotos visiting Amarnath and 94.56 Lakh making the pilgrimage to Vaishno Dev. The sector represented more than 8 percent of the GDP of the regions.
According to the recent economic survey, J&K registered a solid economic performance with its true Gross Domestic Product (GSDP) that grew by 7.06 percent in fiscal year 2015. The region has also received investment proposals for a total of ₹ 1.63 Lakh Rure Axis or December 2024, which is expected to generate direct employment for more than 5.90 Lakh people. However, the recent attack raises a direct threat to such investments, since it can stimulate investors to withdraw due to security conerns.
Precious human lives
“We are mourning for the loss of a precious human life. Business is the lower concerns at this time,” said Javed Ahmad Ha, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Kashmir Industry.
The spokesman or the economic alliance of Kashmira, Qazi Touseef too, echoed his views when he said that human lives were of the utmost importance. “Economic lives are the latest in our minds at this time.”
Posted on April 23, 2025
