Pahalgam terror attack: Tourists leave Kashmir, cancel travel plans

A gruesome terror attack in Pahalgam, located in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday, April 22, has affected the valley’s tourism sector, prompting existing visitors to leave and others to reconsider their future visits.

The attack, which killed at least 26 people, mostly tourists, and injured several others, took place at Baisaran, a meadow accessible only by foot or horses. The incident comes in the midst of Kashmir’s spring tourism season, which attracts travellers from around the world.

However, following the attack, tourists in the area have begun leaving, with authorities making efforts for the safe return of the visitors to their respective home states.

Tourism in Kashmir affected

Tour operators and other people associated with the tourism sector said that most of the tourists were leaving the valley due to fear, PTI reported.

“We know tourists have by and large been safe in Kashmir but with such an incident happening here, one cannot expect them to stay back. The cancellations are massive, close to 80 per cent,” Aijaz Ali, a travel operator from Srinagar, told PTI, adding that people were also cancelling packages for the next month.

“All the good work over the past several years has gone down the drain. It will take a lot of convincing to bring tourists again to Kashmir,” Ali added.

While most tourists are scared and leaving the area, some are staying back.

“We have come out (of hotel rooms) and we do not feel any fear. There is security everywhere. We have plans to visit Pahalgam and if the situation remains good, then we may go there tomorrow,” a woman tourist from Maharashtra told PTI.

“We have come from Mumbai, we thought now we have to return, but the hotel staff made us feel safe and comfortable. They told us we can move around. We came out and saw that here is police and army everywhere and tourists are feeling secure. We can safely move around and the fear is decreasing now,” she added.

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat asserted that his ministry will do their best to “minimise the dent” on tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.

“I am in touch with everybody, my office too, my secretary is also in touch with the tourism secretary in Jammu and Kashmir, the chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir. We are in continuous touch and keeping an eye on that. And, we will do our best to minimise the dent on tourism in Kashmir, because of this incident, and tourism across the country,” he told reporters, according to PTI.

Measures for safe return of tourists

While Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said it was “heartbreaking” to see the exodus of visitors, he revealed measures taken to facilitate their safe return.

“It`s heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests from the valley after yesterday`s tragic terror attack in Pahalgam but at the same time we totally understand why people would want to leave. While DGCA & the Ministry of Civil Aviation are working to organise extra flights, NH-44 between Srinagar & Jammu has been reconnected for traffic in a single direction,” Abdullah posted on X.

“I`ve directed the administration to facilitate traffic between Srinagar and Jammu allowing tourist vehicles to leave. This will have to be done in a controlled and organised way because the road is still unstable in places and we are also working hard to clear all the stranded vehicles. We will not be able to permit completely free movement of vehicles at the moment and we hope that everyone will cooperate with us,” he added.

It’s heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests from the valley after yesterday’s tragic terror attack in Pahalgam but at the same time we totally understand why people would want to leave. While DGCA & the Ministry of Civil Aviation are working to organise extra flights,… pic.twitter.com/5O3i5U1rBh

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 23, 2025

According to PTI, the Civil Aviation Ministry has directed airlines to ensure there is no surge in airfares on the Srinagar route. Indian airlines like Air India and IndiGo are also operating additional flights on Wednesday, April 23, from Srinagar to Mumbai and Delhi.

(With inputs from PTI)