Pahalgam terror attack | Nearly 80% tourist bookings to Kashmir cancelled

Shikaras, a traditional wooden boat, are parked on the banks of the Dal Lake, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on April 26, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Eighty per cent of tourist bookings to Kashmir have been cancelled in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Kashmir Hotel Association (KHA) said in Srinagar on Saturday (April 26, 2025).

Also read: Pahalgam terror attack LIVE updates, April 27, 2025

“There have been 80% cancellations in bookings. We can understand. It is justified and natural given what happened,” Mushtaq Chaya, chairman, KHA, said.

Mr. Chaya said tourism stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir were not worried by the dent to business “but are sad with the fact that the incident took place on our soil”. “The people of Kashmir have condemned the act. Everyone joined the protest and observed a shutdown, which happened for the first time. Time is the best healer,” he said.

Also read: Pahalgam terror attack: Hotels asked to forgo cancellation fees for J&K

Satish Vaishya, head of the Mumbai-based Pooja Holidays, extended support to tourism in Kashmir. “Kashmir sees phases of growing tourism and slumps in a cyclic manner. The tough events of 2010 were followed by the 2014 floods, and then (abrogation of) Article 370 in 2019. We saw the ‘Boycott Kashmir’ campaign after the Pulwama attack in 2019. However, we have always supported the ‘Love Kashmir, Promote Kashmir’ campaign. I am hopeful tourism will pick up again,” Mr. Vaishya, speaking at a press conference in Srinagar, said.

Also read: Six in 10 families cancel travel plans to Kashmir, finds survey

The Pahalgam terror attack has hit the tourism industry badly in Kashmir. Thousands of tourists have cut short their holiday in Kashmir, and left by special flights and trains after the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, 2025.  

Businesspersons condemn

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, headed by Javid Ahmad Tenga, on Saturday (April 26, 2025) met with J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhavan here “to express the business community’s condemnation of the gruesome Pahalgam attack on innocent civilians”.

“The heinous attack has deeply wounded the soul of Kashmir, and left every citizen shattered and bereaved,” the KCCI delegation told the L-G.

Mr. Tenga stressed that this was not a time to discuss business losses. “The KCCI deeply feel the pain of every innocent life lost. These tragic deaths transcend economic considerations and strike at the very heart of society and shared humanity,” he said.

The KCCI sought the L-G’s support in facilitating a visit to meet and express solidarity with the families of the Pahalgam terror attack victims. The L-G assured support would be made available at the appropriate time, the KCCI said.

The KCCI also expressed concern over the targeting of Kashmiri students, businesspersons, and others residing outside the Union Territory.

The industry body reiterated its commitment to peace and progress in J&K, and offered full support for the success of the Amarnath Yatra this year.