Hotels and houseboats in Indian Kashmir are offering discounts of up to 70% after travelers fled following a deadly attack. On the Pakistani side, a tourist hotspot just on the border was sealed off as war cries between the foes grow louder.

Delhi

In the divided region of Kashmir, rising tensions between India and Pakistan have led to a steep decline in tourism. This once-bustling industry has slowed considerably, affecting both sides of the Himalayan region. On the Pakistani side, places like Peer Chinnasi near the Indian border, typically bustling with tourists, have seen a sharp decline in visitors. Hotels and restaurants report few guests following advisories urging caution due to fears of an Indian strike. Mohammad Sagir, a local restaurant owner, attributes the slump to road closures and heightened border tensions.

The impact is felt across the region, with the All Kashmir Hotel Association reporting zero occupancy rates for the last eight days in Neelum Valley due to restrictions beyond the marble checkpost. Similarly, the market in Muzaffarabad, containing numerous hotels and small businesses, suffers from the lack of visitors. Across the border in Indian-administered Kashmir, the situation mirrors similar challenges as hotels and houseboats drastically reduce prices to attract tourists, who fled after a deadly attack that left over two dozen people dead.

A fragile ceasefire had enabled a tourism boom in previous years, bringing millions of tourists to both sides of Kashmir. However, the recent attack has reignited hostilities, with India accusing Pakistan of involvement—a claim Pakistan denies but counters with accusations of potential Indian military action. Despite these challenges and heightened fears, some tourists from places like Islamabad have still ventured into the region, describing it as peaceful despite the prevailing tensions.



Kashmir braces for long tourism slump as tensions rise

Once, a bustling tourist industry has grown quiet in the scenic mountains of Pakistani Kashmir. Residents in the divided Himalayan region rely heavily on visitors, but simmering tension with India has changed that. On Sunday, when Reuters visited Peer Chinnasi, a popular hilltop near the Indian border, hotels and restaurants had few guests. Authorities had advised caution for the area, fearing an Indian strike. Local restaurant owner Mohammad Sagir says he's seen slum in business and blames road closures near the border. Abrah Ahmed Bhatt, a spokesperson for the All Kashmir Hotel Association, says he sees no end to the uncertainty. There are currently around 370 hotels and guesthouses in Neelum Valley. We've had zero occupancy for the last eight days because tourists aren't allowed beyond the marble checkpost. The same situation is in Muzaffarabad, where there are around 170 to 180 hotels and guesthouses. It's not just the hotels affected, small shops, traditional food restaurants and the entire market there have suffered. Across the border in the Indian Kashmir, hotels and houseboats are offering discounts of up to 70 percent after tourists fled following the attack. A travel agency in India-administered Srinagar says houseboats now sit empty after bookings were cancelled following the attack. Kashmir has long been a conflict zone, with India and Pakistan both claiming it in full but ruling it in part. However, a ceasefire that largely held for four years saw a tourism boom. It sent 3 million tourists to India-Kashmir and 1.5 million to the Pakistani side last year. Even last week, an attack on tourists in Kashmir left at least 26 dead, sparking a fresh crisis. India has accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, which they deny. Despite fear of an Indian response, some, like Syed Yaseer Ali, still made the trip from Islamabad. The situation is very peaceful here and then the tourists, you can see, if you can see move around, a lot of tourists, they are coming here. I think so. There is not a specific fear as people, what they are thinking in their imagination. In actual on grounds, it's safe. India accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, which Islamabad denies. In response, Pakistan claims it has credible intelligence that India is planning military action.

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