Pahalgam assault: Centre asks tour operators, lodges to forego cancellation charges for J&Ok bookings

A day after the lethal assault through which at the least 26 folks have been killed, vacationers go away lodges on April 23, 2025, morning within the Pahalgam space of Anantnag in south Kashmir.
| Picture Credit score: Imran Nissar

As stories poured in of widespread cancellations of scheduled journeys to Jammu and Kashmir following the Pahalgam assault, the Union Tourism Ministry on Wednesday requested journey and tour operators, on-line journey aggregators, hoteliers, and different stakeholders to supply all potential help to vacationers, together with waiving off cancellation charges.

Sources within the Indian Affiliation for Tour Operators (IATO) mentioned that until Wednesday afternoon 35% bookings of scheduled journeys to J&Ok had been cancelled.

The directive by Union Tourism Secretary V. Vidyavathi mentioned, “That is within the aftermath of the current incident in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. It’s requested that every one the vacationer service suppliers, journey brokers, tour operators, On-line Journey Aggregators (OTAs), vacationer transport suppliers, hoteliers and all different lodging items might present all potential help to the vacationers together with waiving off cancellation charges. Your help is vastly appreciated.”

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Amongst those that have been despatched the communique have been MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Goibibo, Clear Journey, EaseMyTrip, Ixigo, Airbnb, Agoda, Thrillopilia, Reserving.com, and all Expedia Tourism, and Hospitality Business Associations.

At a operate earlier within the day, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat mentioned that his Ministry will do one of the best to “minimise” the dent on tourism in Jammu and Kashmir within the wake of the assault.

“I’m in contact with everyone, my workplace too, my secretary can also be in contact with the tourism secretary in Jammu and Kashmir, the chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir. And, we are going to do our greatest to minimise the dent on tourism in Kashmir, due to this incident, and tourism throughout the nation,” he mentioned.

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A complete of 26 vacationers had been killed in a terrorist assault in Pahalgam on Tuesday.

Stakeholders within the tourism trade mentioned that the assault would have a deep impression on home tourism and have an effect on the livelihood of many in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO mentioned, “Such drastic assaults on harmless vacationers could have very unfavourable impression on each home tourism to a really massive extent and worldwide tourism in Jammu & Kashmir, though worldwide vacationer arrivals are much less attributable to advisories issued by numerous international locations. As of now it’s too early to verify cancellations. In brief run there can be cancellations however with help of all of the stake holders we’re positive tourism would bounce again.”

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“IATO members have been selling and promoting Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Packages and can proceed to take action and such terrorism actions cannot have an effect on our morality to help tourism trade of Jammu & Kashmir,” he added.

The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) mentioned the assault has dealt a “merciless blow to the hundreds of households who depend upon tourism to outlive”.

A MakeMyTrip spokesperson mentioned, “Our on floor crew is doing every little thing of their capability to supply help to travellers. We stay dedicated to offering continued help to each our prospects and companions throughout this tough time.”

An announcement from the tour operator Cox and Kings mentioned that it has introduced a “100% refund and full flexibility on all Kashmir journey bookings — with no questions requested”.