Srinagar, May 03: In a move to ease the burden on affected travelers, the J&K Cable Car Corporation has issued a public notice announcing full refunds for no-show and non-reporting tourists holding tickets from 22nd April to 5th May 2025.
This follows an unprecedented wave of cancellations after the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which left several innocent lives lost and severely impacted the valley’s tourism sector.
The directive applies to both offline and online bookings, with the Corporation stating that tickets booked until 22nd April with visit dates up to 22nd June will be fully refunded, provided cancellations are initiated by 10th May. However, any cancellations made after that date will attract charges as per existing policies.
In the notice, the Corporation also informed that on-cabin tickets for the Gulmarg Gondola will continue to be provided daily from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, while also announcing special concessions for schools and educational institutions.
Tourism in Kashmir has taken a significant hit since the Pahalgam incident, with industry stakeholders reporting a 90–95% drop in tourist footfall. “The situation is grim. Most of our bookings have been cancelled, and business is down across hotels, tour operators, and transport services,” said a local tourism operator, requesting anonymity.
The Tourism Department and Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir has also appealed to all stakeholders to issue full refunds and waive cancellation charges to avoid further erosion of goodwill.
While security forces have increased their presence in tourist zones and reassured travelers, the psychological impact of the attack has created a chilling effect. Many potential visitors are now either postponing or canceling their trips, with summer bookings dipping to historic lows.
Authorities hope that steps like this public refund policy will help salvage some confidence and offer relief to tourists already facing emotional and logistical distress.
