Hyderabad: The recent terror attack in Pahalgam has caused many tourists to cancel or reconsider their summer travel plans to Kashmir. This includes people who planned to visit the region for vacations and those preparing for the Amarnath Yatra in July.
The attack created fear because the terrorists reportedly asked the tourists their names and targeted them based on their religion. This has deeply worried travelers and raised safety concerns.
Travel agents, who had already suffered losses during the Covid pandemic, are now facing a new wave of cancellations. Nagesh Pampati, president of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and head of Aeroworld, said that around 150 to 160 bookings have been canceled for trips scheduled in the next week or so.
He added that some tourists with bookings in the coming weeks have not canceled yet but are asking about the steps the government is taking to ensure safety. Nagesh also mentioned that airlines are cooperating by offering refunds for canceled tickets.
According to him, a large number of tourists from the Telugu states travel to Kashmir every year between April and June. Aeroworld alone sends over 1,000 tourists during this period.
Pavan Singh, who runs Jai Bhavanee Yatra and organizes Amarnath Yatra trips each year, said he has been receiving many calls from concerned travelers. He has been assuring them that there is still time before the yatra begins.
Pahalgam is an important stop on the Amarnath Yatra route. Pilgrims pass through this area on their way to Chandanwadi and the Amarnath cave.
Pavan said they already have 8 to 10 bookings for this year’s yatra, which starts on July 1. He believes that by then, the situation will improve and strict security will be in place.
He also emphasized that during the Amarnath Yatra, the military handles security and checks every bag carried by the pilgrims, ensuring their safety.
