Looking at a 100% loss and a pre-2010 situation where tourism was dead if the valley continues to simmer.
The tension in the valley could be the death knell for tourism says a Delhi-based tour operator. The insurgency that followed militant leader Burhan Wani’s death has led to many tourists ending their trips before its completion and many others have cancelled upcoming tours altogether.
According to a Border Security Force (BSF) official who wishes to remain unnamed, all movement in Kashmir is restricted. Tourists, especially those travelling by road are held outside the city (Srinagar) limits. Convoys are being held back in Jammu and those coming in from Leh are held in Sonmarg. “All citizens are being advised to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel,” the official was quoted as saying.
Mumbai-based businessman Jimit Ladhani reached Srinagar on Saturday to attend a friend’s wedding. However, his first trip to the valley has been somewhat disappointing as the “the situation is fairly grim.” Ladhani adds, “We have been told to restrict our movements only for emergency and stay indoors. Even the locals here have told us not to move about by ourselves. The entire wedding party from the hotel is moving to the groom’s house during the day for safety measures.”
However, a Delhi-based tour operator and a Srinagar local claims that the stone-pelters are very conscience about injuring tourists. “The suspension of the Amarnath yatra has been the government’s prerogative alone. The “insurgents” have declared that they would not hurt the devotees and that they would be given safe passage,” Younnis Malik claimed. “A tourists’ identity is defined by his face and the locals are leaving them alone – the locals are free to mingle within the city (Srinagar),” he added.
Malik claims, with Wani’s death, tourism in the Valley will go back to the dismal days before the year 2010. “Tourism had started picking up in 2011 and the past three years it had hit its peak. In fact, 2016 has been the best year for tourism so far,” Malik said.
Mumbai-based tour operator Atmaram Parab of Isha Tours and Travels concurs. “We have seen a 30% hike in booking this season alone,” Parab said.
“We have a group of almost 67 who will depart for Jammu and Kashmir on Monday morning. We have briefed them sufficiently and informed them that they would be making the road trips out of Srinagar at night,” said Parab.
Precautions are being taken for those on ground. All movement intercity is limited and convoys are being allowed to enter Srinagar post-midnight. Almost all flights out of the state are overbooked and sold out as people are rushing out of the valley.
Parab added, “This situation is not new to us. We have to deal with curfew and stone-pelting incidents at least a couple of times a year. We properly brief our clients before they go ahead. However, we are thinking of planning tours without Srinagar as an option from the next season onwards. No matter how many precautions we take, their safety is our moral responsibility.”
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 "Srinagar unrest")
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