Tourist Exodus from Pahalgam Following Deadly Attack

The beautiful Himalayan region of Kashmir is frequently called "Little Switzerland" by Indian tourist brochures, owing to its stunning mountain meadows that attract visitors looking to escape the intense summer heat of the plains. However, following a tragic incident on April 23, where gunmen attacked the popular tourist site of Pahalgam and killed 26 individuals, there has been a noticeable flight of tourists from the area, as reported by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Despite New Delhi touting the arrival of 3.5 million tourists in 2024 as a sign of returning normalcy to the region, the reality is starkly different in the wake of this violence. For years, rebels in this predominantly Muslim region have engaged in an insurgency aimed at either achieving independence or joining Pakistan, but the frequency of violence had diminished notably since the Indian government stripped Kashmir of its limited autonomy in 2019. With an estimated 500,000 soldiers stationed in the territory, the recent attack on civilians has stirred fear among tourists who rapidly attempted to leave, resulting in a surge of cancellations from hotels as they sought safety from the chaos.