Cancellations in valley hit tourism

The prevailing law and order situation has dealt a serious blow to tourism in Kashmir as hoteliers, travel agents and houseboat owners say ‘a flood of cancellations of bookings’ has struck them. Rouf Tramboo, president of Travel Agents' Association of Kashmir (TAAK) said: ‘Since the middle of February, things started changing. Normally, the tourist season starts from March and April.’  ‘Most of the bookings for these two months have already been cancelled. Nearly 30 pc to 40 pc of bookings for coming months have been cancelled so far. ‘Bookings from May onwards, which we still have, are also threatened, as the media hypes the fidayeen attack in Srinagar,’ Tramboo said.