Srinagar: Despite the recent terror attack in Pahalgam which killed 26 tourists, visitors are returning to the scenic Kashmir Valley including its premier resort (Pahalgam), driven by what many of them said on Sunday was the hospitality of local people.Stakeholders said that after experiencing a significant disruption in tourism following the April 22 terror attack, they have welcomed more than 7,000 holidaymakers in the past three days. “It is the warmth of the people of Kashmir, personalised services and the gestures like discounts on accommodations and free meals that is helping rebuild confidence,” said tour operator Rauf Tramboo.As the ghastly and unexpected terrorist attack on April 22 fanned security fears, thousands of tourists holidaying in Kashmir had left the Valley immediately. Tourism officials here said the gory act also led to cancellations of about 80 per cent of scheduled visits to the Valley for the remaining days of April.Though travel agencies in Mumbai, Delhi and elsewhere had reported significant cancellations of bookings in the coming weeks due to safety concerns, Mr Tramboo, who heads a highlands journey and adventure travel company, said that 40-50 per cent bookings for May are intact and there are no cancellations for June and beyond. “Despite the negative reporting on Kashmir by sections of the mainstream national media, particularly TV channels, and malicious and irresponsible social media posts following the Pahalgam terror attack, tourists are returning to the Valley. Also, travel queries about Kashmir’s safety by those who want to visit in coming weeks have surged in the past couple of days, which is a good sign,” he said.Several domestic and foreign tourists who turned up at Pahalgam during the weekend said it is the Kashmiri hospitality and bolstered security that they decided to visit the place. Ramesh Khanna, a resident of Punjab, said: “It is the warmth of the people of Kashmir and the trust in our security forces that I decided to spend about a week along with my family in the Valley.”Among those seen holidaying in Pahalgam on Sunday is Bollywood actor Atul Kulkarni, who told reporters he will take a lot of love with him from Kashmir. “The people of Kashmir are very beautiful; their hospitality is unmatchable. It leaves guests feeling truly valued and comfortable. The way all these people are meeting me, it is visible in their eyes that they are sad right now, but as soon as I meet them and share my purpose of coming here, they smile,” he said.He added that apparently the terrorists want people should not come to Kashmir. “They are threatening us and saying that we should not visit Kashmir, but we shouldn’t listen to them. We should come here, or else it will be their win. I decided to contribute. When I told people this, they said this is very important, you should tell people to come here. You should tell people that they are safe, and we will take responsibility for them”, he said.On Saturday, the traders of Srinagar’s central square Lal Chowk served complimentary beverages and cookies to tourists as a heartwarming gesture of hospitality. “What we did was to make them feel welcome and to showcase the Valley’s traditional spirit of warmth and generosity,” said a spokesman of the Lal Chowk Traders Association. He added: “We want every tourist visiting Srinagar to feel at home. Offering tea, biscuits, and water is a small way to demonstrate the hospitality that Kashmir is famed for.”Well-known Kashmiri hotelier Mushtaq Ahmed Chaya told reporters: “The Pahalgam incident was horrific. It broke our hearts. But the people of Kashmir expressed outrage as the attack not only targeted innocent visitors but also threatened the Valley’s economy and reputation for hospitality”. He added: “What is also heartening is that iconic spots like Srinagar’s Dal Lake, Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Doodhpathri are back to normal activity. People have started turning up even at Pahalgam.”
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