Rakesh Wazir, President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association in Katra, stated on Monday that the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack has significantly affected tourism in Jammu, with cancellations of at least 35% of bookings. He reported that the number of visitors for the Vaishno Devi yatra has dropped drastically, from 45,000 to just 20,000 to 22,000.
“The Pahalgam attack has had a substantial impact, with continuous cancellations. Our assessment shows that 35 to 37 percent of bookings have been canceled,” Wazir said, emphasizing the decline in tourism.
Wazir also reassured the public about the situation in Katra, stressing that the region has remained peaceful and unaffected by the recent violence. He urged people to reconsider their perceptions of Jammu and Kashmir, saying, “The situation in Katra has always been stable, and it remains so. The incident in Pahalgam is far from here, and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is peaceful.”
Meanwhile, a man was arrested for allegedly impersonating a registered porter on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine route. Police identified the suspect as Mast Ali, a resident of Harot Kot village in Reasi district. He was caught operating without the required registration or service card, which violates the rules set by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office.
The tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, has raised security concerns and intensified diplomatic responses between India and Pakistan.
