In the wake of a devastating Pahalgam massacre on April 22, the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir has suffered a near-total collapse, prompting urgent appeals from airlines and hoteliers for government relief to revive the industry.
Major Indian airlines, including IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Air India, have urged the central government to waive user development and aviation security fees at Srinagar airport for one year. The move, they argue, would allow them to offer cheaper tickets and attract tourists back to the Valley. The current charges, Rs 1,050 in user development fee and Rs 200 in aviation security fee per passenger, are baked into ticket prices, further discouraging travel amid heightened security fears.
In a letter to the government seen by The Economic Times, the Federation of Indian Airlines stated: “After the Pahalgam incident, tourists are terrified, and no one is travelling to the Kashmir region. There is no demand for air travel to and from Kashmir, and hotels are empty there.” The lobby group added that financial support was as critical as security measures in rebuilding tourist confidence.
The attack in Pahalgam targeted visiting tourists and came at a time when Jammu and Kashmir was witnessing a 15-year high in tourism. The sudden reversal has been sharp. Daily passenger arrivals at Srinagar airport have dropped by more than half and airlines have scaled back operations from 92 flights to just around 50 a day.
The aviation sector’s plea has been echoed by the hospitality industry. Hoteliers report near-zero occupancy across Kashmir despite offering steep discounts of 30 to 50 per cent, a rare move in what had been a thriving tourist season.
Mushtaq Reshi, president of the domestic tour operators’ association in Kashmir, described the current situation as “unprecedented”. “This kind of discounting and collapse in footfall has never been seen before,” Reshi, who also runs the travel company Essence Holidays, told the newspaper.
The crisis intensified after retaliatory strikes by Indian forces led to the temporary shutdown of several airports near the border, including Srinagar, adding further uncertainty to travel plans. With the summer tourist season at risk of complete washout, both airlines and the tourism industry are looking to the government not only for immediate financial measures but also for a broader recovery package aimed at restoring confidence in Kashmir as a safe and vibrant destination.
