Pahalgam terror strike shakes Kashmir’s tourism industry as people fleeing the Valley
PTC Web Desk: The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, which tragically claimed the lives of 26 tourists, has sent shockwaves through the region's tourism sector. For decades, tourists had never been the direct targets of violence in Kashmir—a region that heavily depends on tourism for its livelihood. This attack, however, marks a painful turning point.
Local travel agents, hotel owners, and tour operators are reporting mass cancellations as frightened tourists leave the valley. Flights from Srinagar are quickly filling up, and highways to Jammu are seeing increased traffic as visitors cut their trips short. Many upcoming bookings are being cancelled altogether.
“This isn’t just an attack on tourists—it’s an attack on Kashmiris,” say local travel agents. “My family is in mourning. My children and neighbours were in tears. Every tourist is like a guest in our home,” he added.
The incident has deeply affected the local community. "Pahalgam was peaceful. This incident has shaken our entire identity," said a local.
Local agents say they are receiving calls for cancellation since early morning. “We knew this would happen. Still, this act has left us ashamed and heartbroken,” they added.
Hoteliers said nothing like this had happened in the past 35 years. They called for a complete shutdown in Kashmir on Wednesday in solidarity with the victims. Every home is in mourning in Kashmir.
Sources say the already fragile tourism economy, just beginning to recover post-pandemic and post-Article 370 abrogation tensions, could suffer a long-term setback. The people of Kashmir are united in grief, with many expressing public condemnation of the attack and urging for the preservation of peace to protect livelihoods and relationships built over decades with the rest of India and the world.
- PTC NEWS
