Tourism takes direct hit, 90% of bookings for Northern India cancelled

AHMEDABAD: Operation Sindoor may have struck terrorist targets across the border, but it has also shaken up vacation plans back home. The aftermath of the Indian military's action in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has triggered flight shutdowns, trip cancellations, and a wave of uncertainty in the tourism sector. Tour operators, who were banking on the peak travel season, say this is the worst May they have seen in years. Tourism, especially to popular northern destinations, is taking a direct hit. Airports in Jodhpur, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Jammu, and Kashmir - all in proximity to the international border - have been shut for civilian aircraft operations until May 10, leading to massive disruptions in travel schedules. Cancellations are pouring in. Travel agencies are scrambling for updates, as there remains no clear word on when normal operations will resume. Prashant Sharma, vacationing in Uttarakhand, said, "We had a packed itinerary from Nainital Jim Corbett and Mussoorie to Rishikesh, but we have cancelled everything except Nainital. We are playing it safe and heading back as planned from Dehradun." Travel consultants confirm that panic and unpredictability have taken over what would normally be a season of packed itineraries and hill station getaways. "People who were already vacationing in Himachal Pradesh have cut short their trips. The North is totally out of the question now. Nearly 95% of the bookings for northern destinations, primarily Uttarakhand, Himachal, and Jammu & Kashmir, for the month of May have been called off," said Virendra Shah, a travel consultant. From a business standpoint, the ripple effect is undeniable. Tour operators, who were optimistic about some revival in business, are suddenly staring at dry leads and refund requests. The sentiment is clear: nobody wants to travel under fear. "A majority of travel industry players have suffered about 70% revenue loss for existing bookings during the peak leisure holiday season. The impact has not spared international travel either. While a select few tourists have gone to the UK or Spain for a long-haul visit, travellers bound for Turkey, Dubai, Bali, Indonesia and the Maldives are backing out at the last minute as well. There's an air of hesitation that was not there a week ago," said Ankit Bajaj, another travel expert, highlighting the uncertainty clouding future bookings. "This conflict has not just disrupted logistics, it has shaken the mood of the traveller. Thus, even if the journey is a month from now, people are unwilling to travel and are blatantly cancelling travel plans," Bajaj added. Sanjeev Chhajer, chairman of GCCI's tourism committee, said, "Domestic air travel is badly hit due to airport shutdowns.. However, international travel is relatively steady, except for a few cancellations by govt employees whose leaves have been cancelled. Except for Turkey and Azerbaijan, other destinations are less affected."