Srinagar, April 16: At a time when tourism in Kashmir was witnessing a resurgence, the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases is playing spoilsport for the industry with hoteliers registering cancellation of the confirmed bookings for the summer season.

The people associated with the travel and hospital sector said at least 70 percent of the bookings are getting cancelled for the month of April and May.

JK Hoteliers Club (JKMHC) confirmed that the hoteliers are facing cancellations due to the fresh COVID19 spike.

Chairman JKHC Mushtaq Chaya said the government has taken serious steps to promote Kashmir’s  tourism which were showing good results.

“As a result of the aggressive marketing campaigns by the tourism department, Kashmir witnessed good tourist footfall. We were able to compensate for some of the losses we had suffered earlier. But the COVID19 cases are increasing which has caused cancellation of the bookings,” he said.

Chaya however expressed optimism that the tourism industry would bounce back again. 

President of Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) Farooq Kuthoo said that the surge in cases in Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal followed by an impartial lockdown has hampered the probability of tourists coming from those states.

"Keeping in view the footfall of tourists from December last year, we were expecting to break all the previous record this season, but unfortunately the rise in Covid cases played a spoilsport again," said Kuthoo.

"Almost 90 per cent of our advance booking for  April and May got cancelled. New queries have also aired up,” he said.

Kashmir witnessed a massive flow of tourists from December last year. 

With the ban on International travel, tourists across India thronged the Valley to enjoy their holidays and also witness snowfall.

As per the official figures, since January this year over one lakh tourists have visited the valley till the end of March.

Director Tourism Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Itoo said though they are receiving 1100 to 1200 tourists per day as of now, nothing could be predicted about the future.

"The major chunk of our tourists are coming from Maharashtra and Gujarat and both the states are witnessing the surge in Covid cases. So, it is hard to predict how many tourists will visit the valley from those places in the coming months," Itoo said.

Itoo said that the tourism department ensures all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are followed and testing of the travellers are conducted at all entry points.

"We are following all SOPs. But many states in the country are witnessing a rise in the cases,” he said.  

The tourism department conducted series of road shows, participated in travel marts across the country and also organised promotional events at major destinations like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Doodhpathri besides Tulip Festival to attract travellers to the Valley. Union Tourism ministry also organised a 3-day promotional event in Kashmir.