Tourism in Kashmir Remains Sluggish a Month After Pahalgam Attack; Srinagar Flight Fares Drop Below Vande Bharat Train Prices

Srinagar, 24th May 2025: Despite the passage of a month since the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, tourist inflow to Kashmir continues to remain low, prompting airlines to offer steep discounts on flights to Srinagar. Airfares, which had been rising sharply, have now fallen drastically.

Currently, one-way flight tickets from Delhi to Srinagar range between ₹3,800 and ₹4,500. Flights from Mumbai, which earlier soared to nearly ₹28,000, are now available for less than ₹5,000. By comparison, tickets for the Kashmir Vande Bharat Express train from Delhi to Srinagar via Shri Mata Vaishno Devi are priced around ₹2,000 to ₹3,000, making air travel an unexpectedly affordable option. However, despite these attractive fares, passenger numbers remain low.

Tourism Decline Following Pahalgam Terror Attack-
The steep drop in tourism and airfare follows the terrorist attack on April 22 in the Baisaran area of Pahalgam, which claimed several lives and severely impacted the region’s appeal as a tourist destination.

Before the attack, Srinagar-bound airfares were at their peak, with one-way tickets from Delhi often exceeding ₹15,000, and occasionally rising even higher depending on timing and availability.

Travel agencies confirm that airlines have been forced to slash prices drastically in response to dwindling demand.

Irshad Ahmed, a local travel operator, said, “A drop of this magnitude in airfare during the peak summer season is unprecedented. The Baisaran attack has severely affected tourist inflow.”

Jameel Ahmed, owner of a tour and travel company, added, “Normally, fares increase during peak tourist seasons. This year, prices were on the rise until the situation deteriorated. Had conditions been normal, only affluent travelers could have afforded these fares, which at times went even higher depending on bookings.”