Tourism Downhill: Thousands of Cancellations Post Pahalgam Attack
Kashmir Travel Revisions: Tour Operators, Travelers Adjust Plans Following Pahalgam Terror Incident
The Tourism Trade Association of Uttar Pradesh (TTAUP) claims that around 1,000 travel bookings have been nixed following the terror attack in Pahalgam last Tuesday. Panicked tourists are reconsidering their vacation plans, leaving travel operators scrambling to cut their losses.
The Numbers Game
Rajiv Arora, a founding member and vice-president at TTAUP, shares the revelation of the dismal fallout on their operations. "We had reserved 10 seats daily with an airline from May 12 through June 20 between Lucknow-Delhi-Srinagar and back. A horrific incident like this happened, and tourists held off for a day, but starting Wednesday, the cancellations started trickling in," he says.
Regaining Trust
Arora emphasizes Kashmir's popularity as a summer getaway, with a sizable repeat clientele. He stresses the urgency of swift action to rebuild trust and foster a sense of security. "We ought to focus on how quickly we can restore confidence with improved safety measures, tourism police, and better tourism infrastructure," he adds.
A similar predicament faced Arvind Saxena, president of the folk and culture group JPS Star 11, whose scheduled performances in Anantnag, Katra, and surrounding areas for the last week of May were torpedoed due to safety concerns. "As of now, yes, we've canceled all the events we've been prepping for the last few months. Our prayers are with peace and tranquility," Saxena shared.
Post-Pahalgam Woes
Architect S Fatima, who visited Jammu and Kashmir along with an 11-member crew just a day prior to the terror attack, expresses her sleepless nights since learning about the tragic incident.
Film Shoot Relocated
The uncertainty doesn't stop at leisure travel; Bollywood director Vijay Singh Bhadauria planned to shoot his untitled Hindi film in Kashmir during the first week of June. His team of 35 was set to tackle scenic spots like Dal Lake before the incident occurred. Describing the situation as "unfortunate," the director mentions, "All work has come to a standstill. I'm clueless about how to proceed. For now, I've decided to shoot in Himachal Pradesh instead, but I had designed a specific sequence with Dal Lake as the focus."
- Pahalgam Attack
- Terrorism
- Terror Attack
- Lucknow
CitiesLucknow
Enrichment Data:The Pahalgam terror attack, which happened in April 2025, has led to a significant slump in tourism bookings and disruptions in operations, particularly in Kashmir and beyond, impacting the wider Indian tourism industry.
Impact on Tourism- The attack resulted in a mass exodus of tourists from Pahalgam and the Kashmir Valley as a whole. Hotels that had been at full capacity saw numerous cancellations, with advance bookings revoked. Restaurants and other tourist-related businesses, which were bustling until just before the attack, quickly became desolate[2].- The roads leading to Pahalgam were barricaded for safety reasons during the search operation for the attackers, causing further tourism disruption. The cancellations extended past Pahalgam to affect Kashmir tourism overall, as the sense of fear and insecurity spread among potential tourists[2].- Given the surge in Kashmir tourism since the repeal of Article 370 in 2019, with visitor numbers hitting over 20 million annually, the attack aimed to sabotage the fragile recovery and growth of the tourism sector. As one of its key tourist hubs, Pahalgam was strategically targeted by terrorists to inflict damage on the region's economy[1].
Wider Economic and Social Consequences- The attack sought to reverse economic and social progress made in Kashmir since its integration into India. By deliberately targeting tourists, it created a perception of insecurity, discouraging travel and negatively impacting livelihoods tied to tourism. This created ripple effects in associated states, like Uttar Pradesh, where the tourism industry is sensitive to national tourist flows and perceptions of safety in popular destinations[1][3].- The terror attack signified a shift in militant tactics, using tactics designed to undermine Kashmir's peace and economic stability by striking at its tourism lifeline - a vital source of income for local employment and business networks[1].
- In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Tourism Trade Association of Uttar Pradesh reports a decrease in travel bookings, with around 1,000 bookings being cancelled.
- Rajiv Arora, a TTAUP vice-president, expresses the urgent need to rebuild trust and enhance security measures in Kashmir, a popular summer tourist destination, to restore confidence.
- Arvind Saxena, president of the folk and culture group JPS Star 11, has cancelled all events scheduled for the last week of May due to safety concerns, following the Pahalgam terror attack.
- Architect S Fatima, who visited Jammu and Kashmir with an 11-member crew prior to the Pahalgam attack, has been experiencing sleepless nights due to the tragic incident.
- Bollywood director Vijay Singh Bhadauria is reconsidering his plan to shoot his Hindi film in Kashmir due to the Pahalgam terror attack, and has decided to shoot in Himachal Pradesh instead.
