Terror attack triggers wave of tour cancellations to Kashmir

Hyderabad: Hours after the terror attack in Kashmir, travel agents in Hyderabad are seeing a wave of cancellations, dealing a blow to what is usually the Valley's peak summer season.
Travel agents are grappling with the fallout as families, solo travellers, and groups of friends pull out of their planned trips.
"This is the worst kind of setback, especially during peak season," said Moiz Meghani, owner of Sky Bookerz Travels. "We had five groups scheduled for Kashmir next week. Almost all of them have either cancelled or rescheduled."
Kashmir had enjoyed a tourism revival post-Covid, particularly attracting first-time visitors and women-only groups. However, safety concerns now overshadow the excitement.
The sudden unrest has unnerved many like Shubhan Jay Sathe, who was set to travel to Srinagar with friends this Friday. "We were excited, but now it feels too risky. We don't want to risk out lives for adventure. We're looking at alternative destinations," he said.
The impact is widespread, according to Abdul Majeed Fahim, chairman of the Travel Agents Federation of India (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana). "Clients are now asking to be rerouted to Himachal or Uttarakhand. Some operators are even considering halting Kashmir packages for the time being," he said. Fahim warned that the ripple effect could disrupt the entire summer season.
Tour operators are particularly concerned about the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. Dodla Hemant, a tour operator from AP, said demand was strong before the attack, with over 50 bookings confirmed. "Now, many fear that pilgrims could become targets," he added.
K Vijay Mohan, president of the Tours and Travels Association of Andhra, reported 10 cancellations just on Wednesday morning. "If the situation doesn't improve, more dropouts are likely in the coming weeks. With airlines offering full refunds till month-end, the number could go even higher," he said.
"This is peak season," Mohan added. "We're looking at a significant dent in business across Andhra Pradesh."
While alternate destinations like Manali and Ladakh are being suggested, the emotional fallout and concerns over safety have cast a shadow over Kashmir's tourism hopes this summer.