In the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday which left 26 dead and several others injured, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory to the airlines on Wednesday to take proactive measures to increase the number of flights to and from Srinagar and to keep a check on airfares in the sector.
There has been a heightened demand for tickets from tourists looking to travel out of Srinagar immediately, and in this regard, the DGCA advisory stated: "...the airlines are advised to take swift action to increase the number of flights in response to heightened demand and also to ensure uninterrupted connectivity from Srinagar to various destinations across India, facilitating evacuation of stranded tourists."
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Post the Pahalgam terror attack, social media has been abuzz with posts of prospective tourists cancelling their upcoming travel plans to the Kashmir Valley and those who had booked their travel packages hastily cancelling. Bearing this in mind, DGCA has asked the airlines to facilitate rescheduling and cancellations so air travellers do not have to bear the brunt.
"The airlines are also requested to consider waiving cancellation and rescheduling fees and provide all necessary assistance to tourists facing unexpected circumstances and challenges during this difficult time," the advisory added.
Moneycontrol has reported that the terror attack may land a crushing bow to tourism and businesses in the Kashmir Valley with many tourists cancelling their travel plans to the Union Territory.
J&K’s Economic Survey 2024-25 showed that tourism is the primary economic driver for the Union Territory as it provides livelihood jobs to a large fraction of the Valley's population number of people and generates plenty of economic activities.
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