Tourism takes a hit post Wani killing

The unrest following the encounter of Hizb commander Burhan Wani has adversely affected tourism in the Kashmir Valley. 

Over the past week, thousands of tourists have fled Kashmir and many more are cancelling their trips, leaving the state to deal with losses running into several crores of rupees. 

“Around 50,000 tourists have left Kashmir in the last one week and arrivals are almost close to zero. Tourism has come down by around 90%,” Mehmood Shah, director, Tourism Kashmir, told DH.

He said his department has made arrangements for the safe departure of tourists from the Valley. “A tent has been erected at the Srinagar airport where passengers can take shelter before they board return flights,” Shah said. The curfew and clashes made it difficult for tourists to travel.

An official of the state tourism department said before the unrest set in, Kashmir was bracing for the best season in recent years. “After the devastating floods in 2014, tourism was back on track this year as we had full bookings in March, April, May and June. But now we have lost everything as tourists are fleeing the Valley,” he said.