Many tourists from South Gujarat drop plan to visit Kashmir valley

SURAT: Over 20,000 tourists visit Jammu & Kashmir from South Gujarat before and during summer vacation every year. Many who had booked hotels for their stay during the Kashmir trip or had plans to go there are now reconsidering them because of the recent terror attack that killed 44 CRPF personnel in Pulwama of Jammu and Kashmir. Tourism business in the Kashmir valley is likely to suffer a massive jolt this summer because a number of tourists from the region now plan to visit either Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand or other popular tourist destinations in the north eastern states.
“I booked air tickets up to Srinagar via New Delhi.I am now cancelling my trip to Kashmir due to security reasons . I now plan to visit Manali. I have asked my travel agent to do the bookings accordingly,” said Vimal Desai, a farmer, who is planning a weeklong trip to a tourist destination with his NRI relatives in March.
Like Patel, many tourists who had got their bookings done are wary of visiting Kashmir valley due to security concerns. “Some of my clients who were inquiring about Kashmir have now dropped their plan. They now want to visit Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand,” said Joy Thakar, a tour operator.
There was snowfall at some places in Himachal Pradesh and it offers experience like Kashmir to tourists. “The inquiries are yet to start this year. Due to the recent terror attack on a CRPF convoy, it seems not many tourists will be interested in visiting Kashmir valley. Those who want to experience snowfall, we suggest them Manali. We also suggest them destinations in north eastern states,” another travel agent said.
Tour operators are preparing tour packages of Leh and Ladakh, the parts of Jammu & Kashmir which are not affected by terrorism. Pilgrimage to Amarnath and Vaishnodevi is likely to witness a rise compared to past years, tour operators believe.