Scores of UAE residents are calling off their planned holidays to Kashmir following the deadly terror attacks in Pahalgam, travel industry insiders have confirmed. The Tuesday attack, which targeted tourists, has sparked a wave of cancellations and renewed security concerns over one of India’s most scenic and increasingly popular travel destinations.
For many, Kashmir had become a favorite getaway — often likened to “Switzerland, but not as expensive”, as one Dubai-based traveller put it.
Personal Safety Trumps Holiday Plans
Dubai resident Amal Gireesh was among the many who canceled a long-anticipated trip. He and his wife had planned to visit Kashmir on May 11 but decided to withdraw immediately after the news of the attack broke.
“It was our dream to visit Kashmir. My cousin and her husband were at the same spot just two days before the terror attack,” he said. “Now, we’re just relieved they returned safely. It’s heartbreaking.”
Tourism Sector Takes a Direct Hit
The impact on Kashmir’s tourism industry — which has seen strong revival post-COVID — is expected to be severe. According to travel companies, bookings are being withdrawn across the board.
“This will impact the business badly,” said Afi Ahmed, Chairman of Smart Travels. “Kashmir had become a year-round destination for UAE travelers — families, bachelors, and adventure seekers.”
Ahmed noted that while December to February remains the high season, recent years have seen rising demand around Eid holidays and school vacations — especially from Kerala-based families living in the UAE.
“In panic situations, people cancel. There’s no debating that,” he added.
Travel Firms Halt Operations
Pluto Travels confirmed it has proactively canceled all upcoming tours to Kashmir.
“We had a family return just before the attack,” said Sapna Aidasani, Head of Marketing and PR. “We immediately canceled every other tour scheduled. This is a serious blow to Kashmir’s booming tourism — it had built a reputation as an affordable luxury destination.”
Social media buzz around hotels like The Khyber and The Lalit had contributed to its popularity, she noted.
Rising Global Concern and Distrust
The incident has raised alarms beyond just Indian nationals.
“The list of tourists killed had people from across the globe,” said Rashid Abbas, Managing Director of Arooha Travels. “We usually send around 500 people to Kashmir annually. But now, even those who still want to go are facing pressure from family members not to travel.”
Musafir.com COO Raheesh Babu echoed similar concerns:
“We’ve seen strong demand since 2021, but this could set us back significantly. It’s a tragedy. Safety is now the biggest question for travelers.”
Aviation Industry Responds
To accommodate the shift in travel dynamics, IndiGo Airlines announced waivers on cancellation and rescheduling fees for travelers heading to Srinagar. It has also added special flights from Delhi and Mumbai, beyond its existing schedule of 160 weekly services to and from Srinagar.
“We’re monitoring the situation closely and supporting affected passengers,” IndiGo said in a statement.
Kashmir Tourism Faces Uncertain Future
Kashmir’s revival as a tourism hub had been nothing short of remarkable following the dual setbacks of the 2019 civil restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Pahalgam attack threatens to unravel much of that progress.
As of now, distrust is setting in. And unless there’s immediate assurance of safety, the tourism wave in the Valley — once surging with hope — may soon face another long winter of silence.
