Kolkata: Uncertainty clouds trips to the picturesque Kashmir Valley with tour operators witnessing cancellations of advance bookings while new bookings have dried up following the Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF troopers in Jammu & Kashmir.
Hoteliers and travel agents in the Valley, however, are optimistic about the tourist arrivals in the coming months despite escalating tension after the air strike by Indian Air Force (IAF) on the biggest training camp of terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Balakot in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. “As far as retail tourism is concerned, Kashmir will remain a doubtful destination till the overall situation improves. People would not like to go there as long as tension prevails.
There may be 10-15 per cent cancellations but overall cancellations in bookings so far are minimal. But no new bookings for Kashmir are being made,” Indian Association of Tour Operators President Pronab Sarkar told IANS on the phone. There is a possibility that people who have planned to visit the Valley in the summer months may cancel their bookings, he said, adding more “cancellation could happen gradually”.
“People have booked flight or train tickets and made bookings for accommodation in advance. Many tourists have their bookings (for package tours in the Valley) and are at present waiting and watching because they will have to incur losses in case of cancellations,” Sarkar said.
Travel Agents’ Federation of Eastern India Chairman Anil Punjabi said the Pulwama terror attack will have “a negative impact on tourists” planning to visit the Valley in the upcoming summer and it will play in their minds even for intended Kashmir tours during the coming winter.
