Soaring airfares affect Kashmir tourism: Hakeem

Srinagar, May 05: Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and former minister, Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen on Sunday voiced serious concerns over the escalating airfares to Kashmir, saying there is a need to safeguard the interests of the Kashmir tourism industry promptly. He said the surge in air ticket prices adversely affects both locals and tourists.
“It’s not just tourists who are affected,” Yaseen said in a statement issued here. “Students studying in and outside Kashmir valley, as well as those requiring urgent medical attention outside the valley, also face difficulties due to the rising airfares.”
Hakeem said the escalating airfares present a pressing issue for the Kashmir tourism industry. The increased costs make family travel packages prohibitively expensive, dissuading tourists from visiting Kashmir, he added.
The PDF chairman urged the government to promptly address the issue of rising airfares, especially as the tourism season in Kashmir is at its peak. “Compared to international destinations like Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore, air travel to Kashmir has become disproportionately expensive for tourists,” he said. Yaseen called for government intervention to regulate airfares, similar to major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Chennai.
The former minister further advocated for the operation of additional flights to stabilize airfares, while also recommending the imposition of price caps during peak demand periods. These measures are crucial for ensuring the sustainability of Kashmir’s tourism industry, he said.