New Delhi:
After a terrorist attack in Pahgam, several travel agencies in Delhi said on Wednesday that about 90 percent of the booking for Jammu and Kashmir has been canceled by tourists on security concerns.
Around 25 people have asked him to cancel his booking for the central region, Gaurav Rathi, the owner of Swan Travelers, said, a company located in Shankar Market, Outer Circle, Connaught Place.
He said that most of the tourists had planned to go to Kashmir next month and are now requesting to cancel.
The attack took place around 3 pm on Tuesday, when the terrorists landed in the Bairsaran Valley of Pahgam and set fire to tourists. The region is a popular tourist destination, often called “Mini Switzerland” for its green grasslands.
At least 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in a frightening attack.
Travel agencies in Delhi said that about 90 percent of the booking for Kashmir has been canceled, while some tourists are negotiating to transfer their plans to alternative destinations.
The owner of Kusha Travels told PTI, “We had some booking from families. From bus and flight tickets to hotel – everything was already booked. But when the news of the terror attack broke, we started receiving calls to cancel.”
Popular tourist spots such as Gulmarg, Hajan Valley and Tulip Gardens were among the most booked destinations.
Karthik Verma, travel agent of Good Guide Tour and Travels, said, “We had more than 20 bookings for Kashmir this month and next month, but almost all of them have been canceled indefinitely.”
He said, “People are asking for refund. They are saying that they cannot take the risk of taking their loved ones to a place where there is a chance that they cannot return,” he said.
Since some bookings, especially for flights and hotels, are non-worthy, it is making a real mess for the tour agencies, Verma said, saying that during this time of the year, during this time of the year, Kashmir is one of the most demanded destinations for families.
Another travel agency, Swastik Travels, said that Kashmir is not only the first choice destination for Delhi, but is very popular among tourists visiting Delhi, many of which plan to visit the valley.
“This is not just to cancel their plans to the residents of Delhi – tourists are already calling their Kashmir visits in the capital, even though hotel tariffs are at one peak in this summer. People are canceled regardless of cost,” said the owner of the Swastik Yatra.
He said, “Not only Kashmir, people are now afraid to visit Jammu. We had booking for seven families going towards Katra for Vaishno Devi Shrine and all of them have been canceled after a terrible attack,” he said.
Another travel agency, AJ Tour and Travels said that they have been instructed to stop taking further bookings for Jammu and Kashmir.
The agency said, “We have been directed by the Travel Association of Srinagar to stop all transport and booking. So we are not accepting any new booking for Jammu and Kashmir until the next notice,” the agency said.
The Pahgam attack is the deadliest in the valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike.
According to a senior official, there were two foreigners and two local residents of the dead, who refused to share more details.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)
