J&K Pahalgam Attack: Security Fears Trigger 25% Surge In Kashmir Tour Cancellations

Thousands of tourists are cancelling their summer travel plans to Kashmir following the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, raising fresh concerns over the region’s security. Tour operators report a sharp uptick in cancellations overnight, with many requesting for diversions to safer destinations like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

“Cancellation requests to Kashmir have surged by 25% in past 24 hours,” said Rajiv Mehra, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators.

With panic spreading, the industry expects the numbers to rise further.

“People are scared, and the situation doesn’t look like it will improve in the coming days,” said P P Khanna, president of the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India, adding that about 30-40% of tourists bound for Srinagar and Gulmarg are now requesting destination changes. "Airlines and hotels are currently offering full refunds, helping ease the shift."

In recent years, tourism had rebounded in Kashmir after prolonged shutdowns following the abrogation of Article 370 and then the slowdown because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2024, Jammu and Kashmir saw more than 2.35 crore tourists as against 2.11 crore the previous year, according to official data. At the time of the attack, the Kashmir Valley was experiencing a surge in tourist arrivals, with hotels, houseboats and guest houses, across the region, including Srinagar, brimming with visitors and fully booked. "Flight bookings to Srinagar has gone up by 50-100% year-on-year during April and May," an ixigo spokesperson told NDTV Profit earlier this month.

However, the industry — the primary economic driver for the state — has now got a major blow as security concerns are preventing tourists from going to Kashmir.

Although foreign tourists visit Kashmir less in summer, the attack will harm global tourist sentiment. "We expect foreign tourist arrivals to be affected this winter, particularly between October and March, due to the attack as they are very sensitive," said Sunil Dang, director of Le Travelworld.

India’s aviation regulator has asked airlines to ramp up Srinagar flights and waive cancellation fees to ensure safe return of stranded tourists. As part of the immediate relief measures, four special flights from Srinagar — two each to Delhi and Mumbai — have been arranged, with additional flights kept on standby to cater to further evacuation needs, the aviation ministry said in a release. Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu also chaired an urgent meeting with all airlines and issued a "strong advisory against surge in pricing". Airlines have been directed to maintain regular fare levels, ensuring no passenger is burdened during this sensitive time.

According to their websites, however, there were no available Air India and IndiGo flights from Srinagar to Delhi at the time of publishing the story. Travel aggregator like MakeMyTrip showed two flights for April 23, with one-way fare starting at Rs 14,030. This was double when compared to a Dubai-New Delhi flight, priced Rs 7,907, on the same day.

The attack also occurred when the government was urging countries like the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia to lift travel advisories warning citizens to avoid J&K. These advisories have long damaged Kashmir's image, discouraging foreign tourists and causing cancellations due to lack of travel insurance. Now, there could be more such advisories, say travel agents.