The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Several tourism stakeholders have expressed concern over the soaring airfares which they say have dampened the tourist inflow with the arrival of the peak season.

While talking to the news agency KNO, the tourism stakeholders said they are facing a massive decline and cancellations of fresh bookings.

"Many tourists aspiring to visit the valley have cancelled their plans due to skyrocketing airfares," said Nisar Shah, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Alliance.

He said, “None of their fresh queries are maturing and all our potential clients are turning down the travel programme due to skyrocketing airfares.”

"A group of eight people from Mumbai had planned a visit to Kashmir with my agency but due to the 'extremely high price' of air tickets, they changed the destination. The air tickets for each individual cost them around Rs 40,000 for the two-way trip, so they dropped the plan," he said.

Shah said the halting of operations by Go First airlines has also added to their woes. "Those who had booked tickets in advance are yet to get alternatives while the air prices are soaring with every passing day," he said.

Earlier in the week, Go First airlines in a tweet informed that their flight operations will remain cancelled till May 19, 2023, citing operational reasons.

Following this, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directed the cash-strapped airline Go First to stop the sale of tickets with immediate effect, asking the airline to issue refunds to passengers against cancelled flights.

In a tweet, Go First airline said, “Due to operational reasons, Go First flights until 19th May 2023 are cancelled. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and request customers to visit https://bit.ly/42ab9la for more info. For any queries or concerns, please feel free to contact us.”

Attributing the decline in fresh tourist booking to “soaring” airfares, the Chairman of the Kashmir Houseboats Owners Association—KHOA, Manzoor Pakthoon said that despite already existing issues with tourist bookings, they are now witnessing a huge decline in fresh bookings. He said that aspiring visitors find Dubai or other destinations economical as compared to the Kashmir Valley.

The tourism stakeholders said they have been demanding a cap on airfares for a long time now. "Despite our pleas and repeated representations on the issue, nothing positive has happened to address our concern," he said.

Meanwhile, many netizens on social media highlighted the issue of skyrocketing prices of air tickets.

It is pertinent to mention that a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture in 2021 in its report stated that the airfares to J&K during peak season go equivalent to those on foreign destinations as a result of which people prefer visiting foreign countries.

SRINAGAR — A trip to Kashmir from Delhi, Gujarat or Mumbai becomes costlier for any visitor than visiting any South Asian country which has become worrisome for tourism players of the valley.

If one has a look at the airfare chart by portals like MakeMyTrip and EaseMyTrip, an air ticket from Delhi to Srinagar costs Rs 15,000 which normally is Rs 4,000-5,000, indicating a 300 percent increase in airfare for the last two weeks. Similarly, the airfare from Gujarat is Rs 16,000 and there is almost the same airfare from Maharashtra to Srinagar.

Presently, airfare from Delhi to Colombo (Sri Lanka) is just Rs 11,000 and Rs 22,000 for Dubai.

Mahesh Bhat, a businessman from Mumbai came to Kashmir on March 15 along with his wife and two sons. “Each ticket cost us Rs 18,000 from Mumbai to Srinagar. Last year in October, I went to Dubai and the airfare from Delhi to Dubai was Rs 21,000. We are visiting our part of the country still, it becomes costlier for us than any Asian country,” he told the news agency KINS.

In the first two months of 2023, at least 2.5 lakh tourists visited Kashmir. This includes those who visited by road. In 2022, 1.70 lakh tourists visited Kashmir in January and February.

Over 1.88 crore tourists visited J&K in 2022. Those included religious pilgrims also. Of this, 26.73 lakh tourists visited Kashmir alone, which was the highest number in the last three decades according to government figures.

Tourism is considered the backbone of Kashmir's economy after the horticulture sector. Each year, Kashmir generates revenue of around Rs 8,000 crore from the tourism sector. While the rush is expected to increase this year as Asia’s largest Tuilp Garden 'Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden' was thrown open on March 19. At least 15 lakh tulips with 68 varieties will attract visitors this year.

A senior official of the Tourism Department said more and more tourists are visiting Kashmir this year. “I can’t tell exactly how many tourists we expect this year. But if all goes well, then tourist footfall during 2023 will cross the 2022 figures,” he said.

He said the department has already raised the issue of rising airfare with the Centre.

Mohammad Shafi, a hotelier, said there is 100 percent booking of hotels at Gulmarg and Pahalgam. “This year, we are witnessing a huge arrival of tourists compared to the last year. We hope over 35 lakh tourists visit Kashmir this year but the government has to curb rising airfare,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Valley's apex business chamber – Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has sought intervention from the Union Home Ministry and Civil Aviation Ministry and urged them to step in to curb the exorbitant airfares.

According to KCCI President Javid Tenga, the increase in airfare has had a negative impact on the tourism season as well as the travel plans of elderly, ill, and young people as well as business people.

“The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture having taken stock of the situation emerging out of irrational mechanisms adopted by some operators in league with some airlines manipulating the airfare, the KCC&I hails this Department-related Committee for making the appropriate recommendations and observations,” he said.

“Now, accordingly we would urge and earnestly request the Minister of Home Affairs and the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Government of India, and also the Director General, Civil Aviation to ensure implementation of the recommendation made by this Department-related Committee in letter and spirit without fail and any further delay,” he said.

SRINAGAR — The fresh snowfall in the Valley on Monday led to the cancellation of all the flights at Srinagar international airport.

Director Srinagar Airport, Kuldeep Singh, as per the news agency KNO, said that all 68 flights including 34 arrivals and 34 departures were cancelled today.

He said that all the flights were cancelled due to low visibility and continuous snowfall in Srinagar.

Pertinently, J&K parts received moderate snowfall today, bringing down the temperature across Kashmir.

The weatherman has predicted wet weather conditions till tomorrow.

SRINAGAR — Amid fresh snowfall in Kashmir Valley including Srinagar, most flights have been cancelled and others have been delayed so far at ‘International’ airport here on Monday.

Confirming it, the Director, of the Airport Authority of India (AAI), Srinagar Airport, Kuldeep Singh said that all Air India flights for today have been cancelled due to bad weather. Also, he said, three flights of Vistara — UK 644 SXR DEL having estimated time of departure at 11:35, UK 611 SXR IXJ (ETD 12:35) and UK 612 SXR DEL (ETD 15:40) have been cancelled.

Also, he said, five Spicejet flights (SG 8963 and SG 8161, SG 951 SXR-BOM, SG 8963 SXR-IXJ, SG 8161 SXR-IXJ), three Indigo flights (6E 2981/2982, 6E 2356/2356, 6E 6022/6163) and one GoFirst (G8911/G8913) have also been cancelled.

A senior official of the airport told news agency GNS that there was a possibility of more flight cancellations.

Earlier, Director AAI Srinagar said visibility at the airport was only 200 M and increased to 500 M. However, he said, there is continuous snowfall. “We are simultaneously clearing the snow….To avoid inconvenience and to avoid congestion, please check the status of your flight from your airlines before coming to the airport,” he added.

Train services suspended amid snowfall in Kashmir

Authorities have suspended train services amid snowfall in Kashmir Valley on Monday.

“The train service will remain suspended until the snow on the railway line is cleared,” an official said.

“The railway will resume its operations as soon as the snow is cleared. Once it is done, there will be a first trial run and then the regular train is expected to resume. We apologize to the people for the inconvenience,” the official added.

SRINAGAR — A day after remaining cut off from the outside world, Kashmir’s aerial and surface links were restored on Saturday as flight operations resumed at Srinagar International airport and Jammu-Srinagar Highway reopened for traffic.

Director, Airport Authority of India (AAI), Srinagar Airport, Kuldeep Singh, spoke to the news agency GNS and said that snow was cleared from the runway and apron early in the morning. “Flight services have resumed. The first flight arrives by noon,” he said.

Asked about the number of flights expected to operate during the day, he said, “We are looking forward to having a maximum number of flights today.”

Following snowfall on Friday, most of the flights to and fro Srinagar were cancelled and the airport authorities have already announced passengers of the cancelled flights would be accommodated by the respective airlines in the next available flight “at no extra cost.”

Meanwhile, traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with the outside world, reopened and according to the officials, light motor vehicles have been released from both ends of the thoroughfare. The strategic highway was closed mainly due to shooting stones and mudslides near Mahar in Ramban district.

Mughal road, connecting the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri with Shopian, as well as the Srinagar-Leh highway have been already closed for this winter.

The Mughal road has been closed for vehicular movement vide District Magistrate Shopian's order from January 5 in view of snow accumulation.

Also, the Srinagar-Leh highway was closed for vehicular movement vide Divisional Commissioner Ladakh UT's Order (No. 75) on January 6 in view of snow accumulation.

SRINAGAR — Many news outlets reported on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia had barred travellers from bringing Zamzam water on aeroplanes.

According to the reports, the Saudi aviation body, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), issued Hajj Instructions. However, a directive provided in paragraph 6.9 on page 11 was misquoted in the majority of the reports.

The reports claimed that pilgrims are not permitted to bring Zamzam water, and all airlines have been directed to guarantee that no passengers travelling via Jeddah or any other airport in Saudi Arabia have bottles filled with holy water.

Airlines have been told that breaking the new instructions will result in severe consequences.

Pilgrims to carry 'allowed amount' of Zamzam water

However, according to the Hajj Instructions accessed by The Kashmir Pulse from the GACA website, pilgrims will be able to carry the 'allowed amount' of Zamzam water.

Airlines are completely barred from transporting Zamzam water unless in the amount approved by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's electronic service and produced by the Custodian of the Holy Mosques Zamzam Project, according to the notification.

The wrapping company at the airport must wrap the Zamzam water container properly, the notification continued.

All airlines have been asked to ensure Zamzam logistics on the ferry, with the holy water not to be left at the airport until the Hajj season is through.

Passengers are only allowed to purchase and check-in with a single box of five litres of Zamzam water, which must be put in manufactured packaging provided by the Saudi Airport Authority, according to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

Pertinently, the Zamzam well, which is located 20 metres from the Kaaba, is known as the oldest of its kind.

Muslims believe that the arrival of Hazrat Ismail (AS) to Makkah in the year of his birth happens to be the year when Zamzam first appeared. The well of blessed water is approximately 4000 years old as per the Hijri calendar.

The Zamzam well is said to be among the most enduring miracles of Islam, depicting the mercy of Allah Almighty. It is believed to be sacred within Islam as its origin is mentioned in key Islamic texts.