Following the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam, numerous UAE residents are reportedly cancelling their planned vacations to Kashmir, according to travel agents and affected individuals. The attacks on Tuesday have generated apprehension among travelers who had already booked or were considering trips to the popular destination.
Dubai resident Amal Gireesh, who had intended to visit Kashmir with his wife Anakha in May, decided to cancel their trip immediately after the attack. “It had been our wish to visit Kashmir, and we planned to go there in May. We had even decided on May 11 as we had to schedule the other plans during our trip to India,” Gireesh stated.
The couple’s anticipation was fueled by photos from Amal’s cousin, who had been in Pahalgam just two days prior. “My cousin and her husband were at the same spot just two days before the terror attack. We had seen their photos, in which they wore ethnic Kashmiri outfits, and we planned to do the same when we visited Pahalgam.” However, their excitement has now turned to relief and worry about future travel. “Now, we are all so grateful that they were lucky to have left, and we are scared to go there now. It is so sad that the beautiful Kashmir is hit by terror attacks again after a long period of peace,” he added.
Travel agents anticipate a significant downturn in Kashmir’s tourism sector, which has experienced a surge since 2021.
Afi Ahmed, Chairman of Smart Travels, noted Kashmir’s growing popularity post-pandemic. “It will impact the business badly,” he said, emphasizing that many UAE-based Indian expatriates often include a side trip to Kashmir after visiting their home country. Smart Travels typically handles 200 to 300 passengers annually for Kashmir trips, including individuals, families, and adventure seekers.
Sapna Aidasani, Head of Marketing and Public Relations at Pluto Travels, reported proactive cancellations following the attacks. “We had a family who travelled and returned from Kashmir just before the attacks. We have proactively cancelled every other tour,” she stated. Pluto Travels usually sends over 100 people to Kashmir during favorable weather, with group sizes ranging from 100 to 120, often families. Aidasani highlighted Kashmir’s rising appeal, drawing comparisons to Switzerland due to its beauty but lower cost. “Kashmir had become a popular destination – like Switzerland, but not as expensive. This incident was a huge hit for the travel and tourism industry.”
Rashid Abbas, Managing Director of Arooha Travels, also confirmed cancellations. “If you look at the list of tourists who were unfortunately killed yesterday, there are nationalities from all over the world. Kashmir was very popular,” he said. Arooha Travels typically organizes trips for around 500 travelers to Kashmir annually, with monthly groups of about 30 people. Abbas noted the uncertainty among potential travelers, stating, “A lot of people are confused about their travel plans – even though they would like to go, their families are uncomfortable with them going…”
Raheesh Babu, COO of Musafir, echoed these concerns. “Business to Kashmir has been robust since 2021… this episode could set things back significantly for the travel/ tourism sector. Whatever happened is extremely tragic. Most of our demand is around the Eid holidays and usual holiday season – many people have just returned from the Eid holidays.”
In response to the situation, Indian carrier IndiGo is offering waivers for cancellation and rescheduling fees for flights to and from Srinagar. The airline has also introduced special flights between Srinagar and Delhi and Mumbai, in addition to their regular schedule of 160 weekly flights. “We are closely monitoring the situation and doing everything possible to assist our customers in every way possible. Our priority remains the safety of our customers and offering efficient services,” the airline stated.
