Tourists are beginning to return to Pahalgam, bringing a new wave of optimism just five days after the deadly terrorist attack in Baisaran Valley. Following the attack on April 22, which killed 26 tourists, the daily visitor count fell drastically from 5,000–7,000 to only 50–100, as reported by ANI.
However, on Sunday, signs of recovery started to show as both foreign and Indian tourists were spotted walking through the streets of Pahalgam, bringing back a sense of normalcy and hope to the area.
Among the tourists were visitors from Croatia and Serbia, who praised Kashmir’s stunning natural beauty and the warmth of its people.
Ljiljana, a tourist from Croatia, told ANI, “We are coming from Croatia and we are now three or four days here. We are feeling very safe, and your country is very beautiful. We don’t have any problem staying here. Kashmir is beautiful, very beautiful. It’s very nice, your country is different. We are very, very satisfied with your nature, and people are very kind. We are happy here. We are all 12 people, including two from Serbia and the others from Croatia.”
Talking about the Pahalgam attack, she said, “We heard about the incident one day before. We had decided we must go to Kashmir. We’re feeling very safe, we had no problem here everything is okay. It’s terrible what happened. May those responsible hear this I hope it will stop, in our country and the whole world.”
Another tourist from Croatia, Vlatko, said, “It’s my 10th time in Kashmir and every time it’s fantastic. For me, it’s number one in the world, natural, soft people. My group is very happy; it’s their first time here, Croatian and Serbian people.”
When asked about safety after the attack, he said, “I feel totally safe, no problem here. Everywhere, people say hello – zero, zero scared.”
Admir Jahic, also from Croatia, shared that he felt "wonderful" in Kashmir. “I’ve made many friends here. The hospitality is amazing,” he said. Speaking on the attack, he remarked, “Such incidents are upsetting, and media coverage can make it worse. But I wasn’t scared. Tragedies can happen anywhere – even in Europe. But fear shouldn’t stop you from traveling and experiencing the world.”
Ivana from Serbia also expressed her appreciation for the people of Kashmir. Speaking to ANI, she said, “We are now off to see a little bit more of your beautiful valley and your beautiful country and nature. Thank you very much for having us here. We heard about the incident before leaving our countries, but despite everything, we decided to come. This is a journey we have been planning for years. We knew the country was beautiful, and we expected only good things. Thank you, Kashmir.”
Mohammad Anas from Surat, Gujarat, added an Indian perspective, saying, “We are enjoying our time here in Kashmir. Right now, we are in Pahalgam. We are deeply saddened by the death of our fellow tourist brothers. It’s a huge loss for us. However, the markets and everything else are still open here in Pahalgam. There’s nothing to be afraid of. The Indian Army is here, the government is with us, and even the local people are supporting us. Since the time I arrived, I haven’t felt any fear.”
“When we were on our way and heard about the incident, we were quite scared and thought about going back. But the locals and the army supported us a lot and assured us that there’s no problem here. They encouraged us to come and see Pahalgam. What happened was terrible, and whoever did this did something very wrong it should never have happened", he added.
The strength and unity of the local community were also demonstrated in a peaceful protest, with residents marching proudly with the national flag to oppose terrorism.
Despite the recent violence, Kashmir’s lasting charm, the warmth of its people, and their strong spirit are slowly bringing tourists back, step by step.
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