Wednesday, June 4, 2025
spot_img

Terror strike, Indo-Pak tension push tourists towards NE states

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

From Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, May 12: The heinous terror strike at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir and the decisive military offensive launched by India against Pakistan under Operation Sindoor has forced many domestic tourists to cancel their trips to the northern states and opt for the Northeastern states which is free from any border clashes.
Travellers are redirecting their plans from northern states like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Rajasthan towards the Northeastern region following escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, tour operators said.
Additionally, the suspension of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for one week is expected to further impact domestic tourism in the country, according to travel industry executives.
Several airports were shut and reopened on Monday only but people are cancelling their bookings to these (northern states closer to the border) places, Rajiv Mehra, president, Indian Association of Tour Operators, and general secretary, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality said.
But the new trend is that all these people who are cancelling their bookings to these regions are trying to book trips to Darjeeling, Gangtok, Guwahati, Shillong, and other places in the Northeast, he added.
A section of domestic tourists is also exploring international destinations like Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Japan, Baku, and Bali. Few have postponed their summer vacations.
Unlike over-commercialised hill stations, the NE still feels raw and untouched. Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam, for example, have some of the nicest and most locals. But despite all this, the region struggles to attract budget travellers.
Transport and accommodations are issues —bad roads make many places difficult to reach, and lack of affordable options keeps backpackers away. On top of that, Northeast tourism barely gets promoted at a scale compared to Himachal Pradesh or Goa.
The number of rooms in hotels and guest houses are still very limited in the Northeast. The homestays have come up only recently but are not run professionally, tour operators added.

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

Norway’s Crown Prince, Sonowal inaugurate India Pavilion at Nor-Shipping event in Oslo

Oslo, June 3: Union Ports & Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal joined Norway's Crown Prince, Haakon, on Tuesday to...

Misri appreciates UK’s expression of solidarity in fight against terrorism

London/New Delhi, June 3: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Tuesday conveyed India's appreciation for the UK government's expression...

Pak General ridiculed for claiming Islamabad used ‘own resources’ during conflict with India

Islamabad, June 3: Even as leading warfare experts across the world have exposed Pakistan's massive strategic failures, at...

Move to make Guwahati flood-free: Eviction drive at wetland resumes

Guwahati, June 3: The Assam’s government’s eviction drive in the Silsako Beel area to develop a large-scale water...