'We get 35% of tourists from Maha, will be very tough to woo them back'

Nagpur: Maharashtra is the topmost contributor to tourism in Kashmir, with over 35% of visitors during summer coming from the state. The Pahalgam killings have left travel agents and hoteliers in the Valley worried as they are handling endless cancellation calls now.

"After Mumbai, even Nagpur is one of the main centres from where we get clients," said travel agents in Kashmir.

Back in Nagpur, Avinash Ahere had booked tickets for May 21 for a family trip. Ahere was eager to revive the memories of an earlier trip eight years ago, but is now in two minds. "The tickets are costly, and if I cancel them now, a huge amount would go. I don't want to take any risks either. We won't be able to enjoy the holiday in the atmosphere of fear," he told TOI.

"The economy depends on tourism alone. We are staring at huge losses in the coming days. As a goodwill gesture, hoteliers in Kashmir have already allowed free cancellations. There have been endless calls to cancel the trip, and we have to oblige," says Sameer Baktoo, president of Travel Agents Association of India's Kashmir unit.

Baktoo said as much as 30% to 35% of tourists come from Maharashtra. This is followed by Gujarat, then comes the West Bengal crowd during Durga Puja, he said. Another member of the association in Kashmir put the number of tourists from Maharashtra at 40%.

"The struggle to revive tourist confidence will be tougher than that against militancy. The incident has appalled everyone irrespective of religion," he said.

Raju Akolkar, chairman of TAAI Vidarbha unit, said the fear is obvious. "There have been panic calls from tourists asking whether they should continue with the plans. It is just the first day, more cancellations may follow," he said. There are concerns that the attack may affect Amarnath Yatra starting in July too.

Airlines have already issued notices that any cancellations or rescheduling of flights to Kashmir will be done without any charges. This gives relief to many who want to change their plans. Kashmir is the topmost destination from Nagpur during summers. "We have been sending a number of tourists for years. Now the incident has led to a trust deficit," says Akolkar.

Harmandeep Singh Anand, managing director of Jagsons Travels Private Limited, said it's only the first day after the terror attack. Panic cannot be ruled out. It's good that airlines have waived cancellation charges, he said.

Vaibhav Goswami of Premium Travels said his clients are worried. "Some have plans ahead, but may now change them. It's a matter of safety. There are clients who are already in Kashmir and now calling up to cut short their trip. It has been a tiring day at every office," said an agent visiting Goswami's office.

"If large numbers have fled Kashmir, some fresh tourists have also landed. They skipped Pahalgam and went to other places," said Baktoo.

"It's for the first time that Kashmir has stood up united against killing of innocents,' said another hotelier.