Widespread cancellation of
advance bookings
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Apr 25: Pahalgam terror attack has started showing its catastrophic impact even in Jammu region by giving a major blow to the region’s tourism prospects and causing widespread cancellation of advance bookings amid raising concerns about safety.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
In the last three days, there has been a sharp decline in the number of visitors arriving at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and tourist places like Bhaderwah, Patnitop etc while the locals, especially vendors, hoteliers, guesthouse owners beside others associated with tourism industry are a worried lot as they fear that the economic impact of worst ever terror attack on tourists may leave them jobless and bankrupt.
Hoteliers rue cancellation of advance bookings while no fresh queries are being received for fresh booking since the April 22 terror attack that left 26 tourists dead and several others injured.
“In the last three days, around 40 percent bookings for the forthcoming month of May and June have been got cancelled by the prospect visitors while no fresh bookings are being sought since the terror attack,” said Raj Kumar Padha, President of the Chamber of Tourism Trade and Industry, Katra.
President of Katra Hotels and Restaurants Association, Rakesh Wazir also confirmed that the Pahalgam terror attack has drastically hit business in Katra as the number of visiting pilgrims has suddenly declined around 30 percent since April 22 while more than 35 percent hotel bookings have been got cancelled.
“Even as terror attack took place in Kashmir and it takes more than 10 hours to reach Katra from Pahalgam, negative perception has panicked the prospect visitors who are getting their bookings cancelled,” he said and hoped that people would realize Jammu is not Kashmir.
However, Raj Kumar Padha sought to explain that Kashmir, Katra, Bhaderwah, Patnitop, Shivkhori etc are interlinked in respect of footfall of visitors and whenever there is some terror attack in any of these places, the impact is seen everywhere.
He recalled that there was around 60 percent sudden decline in footfall at Kashmir and other places following last year Reasi terror attack in which seven Shiv Khori pilgrims among nine persons were killed and 41 others got injured.
While hotels are being emptied by the tourists/pilgrims and no fresh bookings are being sought, one of the most visited destinations of Jammu Province – Guldanda in Bhaderwah, which remain abuzz with visitors round the year. is presenting a deserted look leaving hundreds of locals in tizzy and fearing losing their livelihood.
Guldanda meadow and Chattergalla pass on strategic Bhaderwah-Pathankot interstate highway located at a height of 9,555, 11,700 ft above sea level respectively are immensely popular among visitors for their breathtaking landscape and snow covered alps.
According to the Directorate of Tourism Jammu and Bhaderwah Development Authority, the high altitude meadow had maximum footfall of tourists in Jammu province, but the Tuesday’s barbaric act of terrorists has suddenly changed the scenario for worst.
“Till day before yesterday, all the hotels were overcrowded here and we were beaming with joy as after higher than expected winter season, the summer season also started on a very positive note but unfortunately all our hopes, calculations and expectations fell apart as one heinous terrorists act at Pahalgam changed everything,” said Manish Kotwal, a local hotelier.
“Thirty advance bookings of my hotel got cancelled beside all our guests have left. Right now all hotels and guest houses are deserted here. This act of terrorists will have far reaching affect on tourism industry as we here at Bhaderwah are totally dependent on high altitude meadows and it seems highly unlikely that the visitors will soon return to Guldanda meadow which has emerged as bread earner for hundreds of locals here,” Manish added.
Not only hoteliers and guest house owners but dozens of local vendors are also the worst affected as their sole source of income rely on Guldanda meadow and the visitors who visit there in droves round the year.
“Guldanda receives five to ten thousand visitors a day at an average and at least 150 local vendors beside dozens of guides earn their livelihood by the inflow of tourists here but the meadow which usually remain abuzz is giving a deserted look,” said Kamran Khan, a local resident.
“One terrorist act has snatched the livelihood of hundreds of local people here this is indeed worst impact of terrorism on tourism,” he added.
According to Rashid Choudhary, a social reformer, the loss of tourist revenue can lead to unemployment and negatively impact businesses that rely on tourism, such as hotels, restaurants, and tour operators beside hundreds of small time vendors and tourist guides.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
