As travel and tourism agents are seeing an extremely low footfall of travellers from Chandigarh and its adjoining cities, international travellers from the Tricity are pressing the skip button on Turkey and Azerbaijan following the two countries’ criticism of India’s recent action against Pakistan.
Turkey and Azerbaijan condemned India’s recent strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor.
According to the Tricity’s travel and tourism agents, several tourists have cancelled their bookings, especially for Turkey and Azerbaijan. A few of such travellers have changed their holiday destinations to other international destinations including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia (Bali), and Bangkok.
Umesh Kapoor from Grand Travel Planners, Sector 17, Chandigarh told The Indian Express that following the Pahalgam terror attack and its aftermath, the tourism industry got impacted.
“We are seeing overall cancellations by travellers, though it is the peak season now. It will take another month or more for people to come over this war scenario, and if the conditions turn better, only then, people will prefer moving on holiday trips to international destinations,” Kapoor added.
While for a couple, normally a package for five days to destinations in Turkey comes at around 2.50 lakh, people from Tricity are opting packages for Vietnam, Bali, Australia, Singapore, which also come in similar range, added Kapoor.
Another travel and tourism consultant in Chandigarh, Rekha Sharma (Uniglobe Shergill Travel), also confirmed that the travel firms have received cancellations Turkey and Azerbaijan — two countries which were previously trending among travellers.
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“But now there are only cancellations not only for these two nations but for other destinations too. People from Tricity are rather preferring domestic destinations like Goa, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, for this holiday season,” Rekha added.
Rahul Kumar, who was earlier planning to visit Baku in Azerbaijan during the holidays next month, said he is now exploring other options.
“Cannot trust the situation right now, as there is fear of attack, especially at tourist destinations. I had been recommended by my friends and relatives earlier to visit Baku, and other stations in Azerbaijan, but now even if I plan for any international destination, it would be somewhere in Asia, probably Bali or Bangkok, which appear safer for tourists,” Kumar said.
Rishi Sharma, a solo traveller, also doubted if any Indian tourist would go to Turkey now, since it has come out to support our “rival”. “We can pick destinations in our country too, many areas are yet to be explored in India. We should support our nation,” he said.
‘No or minimal travellers to Kashmir’
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Consultant Rekha also said that earlier during the summer season, Jammu and Kashmir was emerging as a top spot among travellers from Tricity and adjoining areas, but now after the Pahalgam terror incident, there are no or minimal travellers to the valley.
