Delhi blast aftermath: Kashmir's tourism sector, still healing from Pahalgam attack, faces new collapse

Kashmir

A nascent recovery in Kashmir’s vital tourism sector has been severely undermined by the fallout from the recent Delhi car blast and the reported involvement of individuals from the Valley, creating a new crisis of confidence amongst potential visitors.

Industry figures report that tourist arrivals have plummeted to alarmingly low levels, dealing a heavy blow to businesses that were already struggling to rebound from a deadly attack this spring, HT reported. The downturn comes at a critical time, just as the region approaches its crucial winter season.

The sector’s struggles began after the Pahalgam attack on April 22, which killed 26 people, predominantly tourists, in the Baisaran meadow. The incident triggered an immediate exodus of visitors and prompted the Jammu & Kashmir government to close over 50 tourist destinations. Though 28 locations have since been reopened following security reviews, the industry was banking on early snowfall in October to stimulate a sustained recovery.

Those hopes have now been dashed. According to Sajad Kralyari, secretary general of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK), the Delhi explosion represented another severe setback for the region's tourism, with the current turnout described as very low and almost negligible compared to expectations.

In his assessment, cited by HT, the renewed hesitancy among travellers is a direct result of the involvement of Kashmiri residents in the Delhi blast and the subsequent accidental explosion at Nowgam police station on November 14.

The November 10 suicide car blast in Delhi, which killed 12 people, has been linked by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to a “white collar terror module,” with arrests including two doctors from Kashmir. Kralyari confirmed that while tourism had gained some momentum in October, the blast had severely hampered its progress.

The current situation is dire, according to hoteliers. Wahid Malik, former president of the Kashmir Hotels and Restaurant Owners Federation, stated that the marginal improvement seen in September and October was primarily due to domestic holidays and festivals.

Malik reportedly said that business is now very limited, clarifying that while the April 22 attack was the primary blow, the Delhi and Nowgam blasts have caused further fear and a steep decline in occupancy, which currently stands at just 2 to 5%.

The downturn is a stark reversal for a region that witnessed record tourist arrivals for three consecutive years. Official figures show 34.98 lakh tourists visited in the last year, up from 31.55 lakh the previous year and 26.73 lakh in 2022. This year had seen promising numbers, reaching approximately six lakh until the Pahalgam incident, after which arrivals dwindled to a few thousand.

Despite the bleak present, industry players and government officials are clinging to hope for a winter revival. The Jammu & Kashmir government is actively promoting the Union Territory at the 56th International Film Festival of India in Goa, showcasing its potential as a film shooting destination.

Darakshan Andrabi, chairperson of the J&K Waqf Board, expressed optimism at a recent tourism event in Srinagar. She cited the upcoming Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg and the transformative effect of snowfall. “I am hopeful of this season...Besides, the snowfall turns this place into a winter paradise and I think no hotel will remain empty this winter,” she was quoted as saying by HT.

This sentiment was cautiously echoed by Kralyari, who noted that there have been enquiries tied to snowfall. He expressed that an early and substantial snowfall could lead to some improvement, identifying tourists from southern India’s IT sector, who often take holidays around Christmas and New Year, as a key demographic for the winter season.