Kashmir prepares for tourism 'long lull' as war cries ring loud

By Aftab Ahmed, Fayaz Bukhari, Asif Shahzad and Tariq Maqbool

SRINAGAR,/PIR CHINASI, Pakistan (Reuters) - Hotels and houseboats successful Indian Kashmir are offering discounts of up to 70% aft travellers fled pursuing a deadly attack. On the Pakistani side, a tourer hotspot conscionable connected the borderline was sealed disconnected arsenic warfare cries betwixt the foes turn louder.

Residents successful the divided Himalayan portion known for its snow-covered peaks, fast-running streams and majestic Mughal-era gardens trust heavy connected tourism, but their livelihood has go 1 of the archetypal victims of the latest hostilities betwixt Pakistan and India.

The nuclear-armed neighbours person fought 2 wars implicit the disputed region, which they some assertion successful afloat portion ruling successful part, and skirmishes betwixt troops stationed on the de facto borderline person made Kashmir the frontline of their discord.

But a crisp diminution successful militancy and a ceasefire that mostly held for 4 years sparked a tourism boom, sending much than 3 cardinal travellers to the Indian broadside of Kashmir past twelvemonth portion astir 1.5 cardinal vacationed connected the Pakistan side.

The influx had been touted arsenic a large occurrence communicative for the authorities of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose revocation of Kashmir's autonomous presumption successful 2019 led to monolithic unrest.

Hotels, houseboats and taxis were astir afloat booked astatine the commencement of the highest summertime play this twelvemonth too, earlier the onslaught past period connected tourists killed 26 men successful a meadow.

India has blamed Pakistan for the onslaught and announced a bid of diplomatic and economical steps against the neighbour. Pakistan has denied immoderate role, unveiled tit-for-tat measures, and warned of an imminent subject onslaught by India.

Yaseen Tuman, who runs a much than 100-year-old question bureau and operates aggregate houseboats successful Srinagar, the main metropolis of Indian Kashmir, said that astir each his customers had cancelled bookings and his houseboats were empty.

"Our houseboats were packed and present we person nary guests," Tuman told Reuters, sitting connected a woody sofa successful 1 of the houseboats connected Nigeen Lake.

Indian question booking websites amusement houseboats and hotels offering dense discounts, but Tuman said helium won't chopped rates due to the fact that helium did not expect tourists to travel successful large numbers anyway.

"We volition person to hole for a agelong lull."

'GOING TO HURT BADLY'

On the different broadside successful Pir Chinasi, located astatine an altitude of 9,500 feet, roadside restaurants, hotels and guesthouses were sparsely occupied aft authorities advised caution, fearing an Indian strike, though it is not truthful adjacent to the de facto border.

Neelum Valley, which lies connected the borderline and is 1 of the astir favoured tourer destinations successful Pakistan, is retired of bounds for now, authorities say.

All the astir 370 hotels and guesthouses successful the vale are present empty, said Abrar Ahmad Butt, spokesperson for the hotels and guesthouses relation of the region. Tourists typically throng the spot starting successful May arsenic temperatures soar successful remainder of the country.

"It's going to wounded severely this season," helium said.

Tourism employs astir 16,000 radical successful the region.

For Syed Yasir Ali, who works astatine a overseas ngo successful Islamabad, not being capable to spell to Neelum Valley whitethorn person been a dampener but helium felt nary fearfulness successful visiting Pir Chinasi with his woman and 3 sons.

"This broadside is safe", helium said, suggesting that others were wrongly fearful of visiting. "I americium connected the ground, it is safe."

But the fearfulness is having existent economical consequences for a tuck store tally by Musaddiq Hussain.

"Business is wholly down," helium said. "We should person bid successful the country, truthful that we could prosper. "We privation some countries to person peace."

In Srinagar, taxi operator Tanveer rues the mislaid opportunity.

"The streets were packed, determination was nary spot to thrust successful the metropolis earlier the horrific killing," helium said, giving lone 1 name. "I hold for a rider each day. Before the attack, I had nary clip to instrumentality connected much work."

(Reporting by Aftab Ahmed and Fayaz Bukhari successful Srinagar, Asif Shahzad successful Pir Chinasi and Tariq Maqbool successful Muzaffarabad; Writing by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Saad Sayeed)