Pahalgam terror attack: Six in 10 families cancel travel plans to Kashmir, finds survey

Terrorist attack in Pahalgam leads to mass cancellations, survey shows Kashmir tourism industry facing uncertain future.

The terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, has cast a shadow over Kashmir’s booming tourism industry. A new nationwide survey reveals that six out of 10 families with travel plans to the valley this year have decided to cancel their bookings following the attack.

The survey respondents represented a cross-section of urban and rural India: 41% were from Tier-1 cities, 28% from Tier-2 towns, and 31% from smaller districts and rural areas. Around 63% of the participants were men, while 37% were women.

Pahalgam terror attack updates April 24, 2025

The survey conducted by community social media platform LocalCircles among over 21,000 citizens across 361 districts across India, paints a grim picture. Among 6,807 respondents who had planned trips to Kashmir between May and December this year, 62% have already decided to cancel their vacations. Only 38% said they would go ahead with their travel plans, the survey revealed.

Looking beyond 2025, the survey asked 14,430 participants about the likelihood of visiting Kashmir within the next three years. Just 29% said they were still open to visiting, while another 33% said their decision would depend on how effectively the government addresses safety concerns. About 21% categorically ruled out a trip, and 9% said Kashmir was never on their travel list.

The travel industry fears not just an immediate slump, but a long-term dip in travel confidence. While some stakeholders hope government intervention might cushion the blow, especially concerning religious tourism, anxiety remains high.

This disruption comes at a time when Jammu and Kashmir was experiencing an unprecedented tourism boom. According to the State’s Economic Survey for 2024-25, the region recorded a historic high of 2.36 crore visitors in 2024. Among them were 65,452 international tourists, 5.12 lakh pilgrims who participated in the Amarnath Yatra, and 94.56 lakh devotees who visited the Vaishno Devi temple.