Tourists cancelling bookings for Kashmir post-terror attack

BJP leader Ashish Shelar pays his respects to the mortal remains of Sanjay Lele and Dilip Desale at Mumbai airport.

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: In the aftermath of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, natives of Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city who were planning to visit the Union Territory in summer vacation are now cancelling their trips, tour operators said on Wednesday.

The terror attack in Pahalgam town has led to cancellations of multiple group bookings for Kashmir in remaining days of April and next month from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in central Maharashtra, they said.

Some travellers are postponing their trips to Kashmir, one of the most sought after holiday destinations in summer months, said the tour operators.

Terrorists struck a prime tourist location in Pahalgam in south Kashmir on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least 26 people, mostly travellers from other states.

Tour operator Sarang Takalkar told PTI, "I had two groups of a total 18 people who were supposed to go to Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Gulmarg and Srinagar for almost a week. They were going to leave for their tour from next week and mid-May. But they have cancelled their bookings."

Another operator Jaswant Singh said, "We have advised people to cancel their trips. People are also cancelling their trips on their own. A group of nearly 30 people was supposed to go to the Kashmir Valley in the beginning of May. But the trip is cancelled now."

Jayant Gore, a tour operator from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, has come out with an extension policy for his customers who were scheduled to visit the Union Territory, but are now evaluating their plans in the wake of the terror attack.

"We have devised an extension policy. People who were supposed to go to Kashmir towards April-end or May have been given this facility. They can postpone their dates or they can go to any other area of the country for the amount they have paid (for Kashmir trip).

"People are calling us and cancelling their trips (to J&K). We have called a group of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar residents back from Mumbai who were supposed to fly to Srinagar today (Wednesday)," Gore informed.

Same story in Gujarat

Ahmedabad: As tourists from Gujarat rushed to cancel their planned Kashmir trips in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, operators in the state on Wednesday said they were ensuring that the tourists get full refunds.

Airlines are being requested to offer free cancellation of tickets for Srinagar till June 30 instead of April 30 as already offered by them, said the Tour Operators and Travel Agents Association of Gujarat.

Kashmir has emerged as among the most favourite domestic destinations for tourists from Gujarat, with around five lakh tourists visiting it in 2024. It had looked like the number will be surpassed in 2025 but Tuesday's attack changed the situation, said Ajay Modi of Ahmedabad-based Ajay Modi Travels.

There were three Gujarat-origin persons in the 26 persons killed in the attack in Pahalgam.

Rush at agents

People are rushing to cancel their planned trips to Kashmir and tour operators are talking to airlines to get them a full refund for cancellations till June 30, said Modi.

"We are letting all those who want to cancel Kashmir tour packages to do so without collecting cancellation charges. We are also allowing them to opt for other destinations, if they wish so, without any hassle," he added.

"We are making efforts to ensure that tourists do not suffer any financial loss due to the cancellation of airline tickets. Airlines have already offered a waiver till April 30, but we have demanded they extend the concession till June 30," Modi added.

People have booked tour packages for Kashmir till June 15, he said. "Customers are not likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir any time soon, as they are assessing the situation unfolding there," he added.

The Association said in a statement that there was an atmosphere of fear, and it was natural that people would not press ahead with a trip to Kashmir under the current circumstances.

The association requests airlines to waive cancellation charges for tickets booked till June 30, it added.

Credit note

Tour operators have been requested to make arrangements so that the tourists who have paid in advance for hotels and vehicles get a credit note of that amount (to be used in future), it said.