The tourism industry of Amritsar has been greatly affected by the tension created between India and Pakistan due to the Pahalgam incident. Since this incident, tourists coming to South India have canceled 60 percent of the bookings made in hotels. Currently, only 15 percent of the tourists are left inside the hotels.
According to hoteliers, an average of about 40 thousand tourists used to stay in hotels in Amritsar every day. Last year, due to the Shri Ram temple, tourists went to Ayodhya and an average of only 20 thousand tourists stayed in Amritsar. This year, the number of tourists decreased due to the farmers’ movement and then the Mahakumbh.
After the farmers’ movement and the Mahakumbh ended, tourists once again turned to Amritsar, but now after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the number of tourists has decreased again. Regarding this, Surinder Singh, President of the Federation of Hotel and Guest House Association, said that due to the tense atmosphere created after the Pahalgam incident, tourists coming from South India have so far cancelled 60 percent of their bookings in hotels. During the summer holidays, lakhs of people come and stay in hotels and inns during the May, June and July seasons. But given the current situation, the hotel industry is sure to suffer losses this season. He said that earlier the hotel industry suffered a lot due to the Mahakumbh Mela and the farmers’ movement.
Along with this, Dinesh Pathania of Katwal Travel said that around 1500 taxis operate in the city. Talking about the taxi business, the earning season lasts from April to July during the summer season.
Taxi business has decreased by 70 percent in just a few days after the Pahalgam incident. Not only this, there has also been a decline in the customers of auto rickshaw drivers.
