Introduction:
Tourism around the world is buzzing with major developmentsāfrom reopened sacred pilgrimages and new travel routes to growing concerns about over-tourism. Hereās a roundup of the most important travel and tourism news making headlines today
Flights disrupted, airlines issue travel advisories as India strikes Pakistan terror camps
Flight to Dharamshala, Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Bhuj and Amritsar have hit, as Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air and Air India Express cancelling flights and issue advisories amid heightened security concerns
Flights to several airports in the north stood cancelled on May 7 morning, with airlines warning of disruptions, hours after India struck terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Following Indian armed forcesā Operation Sindoor, domestic airlines cancelled flights from up north in Leh to Gujaratās Bhuj, which is close to Pakistan border on the west, amid heightened security concerns.
Flight operations to Dharamshala, Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Bhuj, and Amritsar have been disrupted, with major carriers ā Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air India Express ā issuing advisories and cancelling flights.
“Due to the ongoing situation, airports in parts of northern India, including Dharamshala (DHM), Leh (IXL), Jammu (IXJ), Srinagar (SXR), and Amritsar (ATQ), are closed until further notice. Departures, arrivals, and consequential flights may be impacted. Passengers are advised to plan their journey accordingly and check flight status,” IndiGo said in a post on X.
Meghalaya: Hynniewtrep Youth Council urges Centre to halt āEco-Tourismā project in Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary
The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has urged the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to stop the proposed ecotourism project in Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary inĀ Meghalayaās Ri-Bhoi.
In a letter to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, the HYC expressed deep concern over the Rs 23.70 crore project being implemented by the Eco-Development Society of Meghalaya.
The project reportedly includes the development of tourist dwelling places, glass skywalks, and even a water-sports arena within the sanctuary.
The Council highlighted the ecological significance of the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1981, emphasizing its pristine value and its role as a vital habitat for a rich biodiversity.
HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem stated that the sanctuary is home to over 50 species of mammals, including the Clouded Leopard, Leopard, Hoolock gibbon, Elephant, and Gaur, as well as 25 species of reptiles and numerous endangered fish and bird species.
The Council pointed out that several species within Meghalaya have been recorded for the first time within this area.
The HYC underscored that National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries are legally protected areas crucial for biodiversity conservation and that any activities within them should only be considered under āmost exceptional circumstances,ā carefully assessing the potential impact on the areaās flora and fauna.
The HYC argued that the development of āeco-tourism activitiesā inside the sanctuary does not fall under this category.
Despite the ecological sensitivity of the area, the Eco-Development Society of Meghalaya has floated a tender worth Rs 23.70 crore to develop ecotourism infrastructure inside the sanctuary, the Council stated.
Synrem expressed deep concern that these developments would severely disrupt the sanctuaryās delicate ecosystem and the wildlife that depends on it for survival.
The HYC further raised concerns regarding the lack of mandatory approvals. Citing Section 29 and the provison under Section 33 (a) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the HYC stated that prior approval from the State Board for Wildlife and the Standing Committee of the NBWL is required for any diversion of land or construction of commercial tourist facilities within a sanctuary.
Additionally, referencing a 2002 Supreme Court directive, the HYC asserted that such proposals also necessitate the Supreme Courtās approval based on the NBWLās recommendation. The Council stated that, to their knowledge, no such approvals have been obtained for the Nongkhyllem project.
The HYC warned that the proposed tourism activities would severely impact the animals, birds, reptiles, and insects that rely on the sanctuary as a refuge, potentially leading to their death or displacement.
They fear that the project could decimate the biodiversity of an area recognized as a global hotspot under the Eastern Himalayan Endemic Bird Area.
No insurgency in Tripura now, visit tourist spots: CM to people
Agartala, Noting that insurgency has ceased to exist in Tripura, Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday urged the people to visit the state’s tourist spots.
After laying the foundation stone for tourism facilities worthĀ ā¹67 crore at Chabimura in Gomati district, the chief minister said the northeastern state has a rich wealth of tourism from spiritual to ecotourism and historical structures.
The tourist footfall at the tourist spots has been increasing with every passing year as the peace prevails in the state. The state which witnessed bloodshed due to the insurgency, has become a terrorist Free State after en-masse surrender of banned outfits- NLFT and ATTF,” he said.
The northeastern state had witnessed large-scale violence since the 1990s. The main rebel groups included the National Liberation Front of Tripura and the All Tripura Tiger Force .
“The tourist arrival has increased to 7 lakh during 2024-25 FY from 5 lakh during 2023-24. This is a big leap in the state’s tourism sector. The government is contemplating introducing tourist police to provide safety and security to the tourists because tourists prefer to travel safely,” he said.
Asserting that tourism could be a game changer to boost the socio-economic condition of the rural people, the chief minister said the government has taken all possible measures to attract the tourists.
Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury highlighted the initiatives taken for the promotion of tourism in the northeastern state.
“Today, the chief minister laid the foundation stone for developing tourism infrastructures worthĀ ā¹67 crore at Fatik Sagar and Amar Sagar under Asian Development Bank funding. There will be one modern cafeteria, boating facility, pathway and 16 cottages with state-of-the-art facilities,” he said.
Chowdhury said the Centre has sanctionedĀ ā¹97.70 crore to build 51 Shakti Peeth at Bandower in Gomati district under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
“Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, the Centre has sanctionedĀ ā¹48 crore to set up an eco-tourism spot at Sachindranagar in West Tripura district. Once the projects are finished, the face of tourism will be changed completely,” he said
Aditi devo bhava; Indians not bothered with over-tourism
The latest edition of a global travel report reveals that 74% of Indian travellers feel that tourism has a positive impact overall on the place where they live
Parisians grumble about it, Barcelona denizens have protested it, while places like Bhutan and Croatia have actual legislation in place to control it. The effect of over-tourism, and how it affects the locals when it all gets too much.
But when it comes to Indians, it seems the tenet of āAditi devo bhavaā (The guest is like a god) scores over any perceived negative impact of the influx of tourists on the places where they live.
The latest edition of a global travel report reveals that 74% of Indian travellers feel that tourism has a positive impact overall on the place where they live.
Booking.comās Sustainable Travel Report, in its 10th edition,Ā trained its lens on what is a raging topic in Western tourism hotspots ā the impact of over-tourism and the resentment local communities have expressed.
This has resulted in overcrowding and increase in rentals as well as local costs, which can sometimes price many locals out. The issue had particularly hit headlines last season when protesters in Barcelona went around spraying water on visiting tourists in cafes and restaurants.
Places like Bhutan already have a sustainable development fee which tourists have to pay to enter the Himalayan kingdom, while cities from Dubai to Dubrovnik have taxes on tourists. Venice has a levy on daytrippers.
However, for most Indians, the arrival of more tourists is a good thing. While Indian travellers acknowledge challenges such as congestion and rising living costs, they also favour community investmentāsuch as better infrastructure and environmental conservationāover limiting tourist numbers, reflecting their broader desire for culturally respectful, locally beneficial travel experiences.
43% of Indian travellers believe there is the right amount of tourism where they live. In fact, of Indians polled, just a quarter felt that capping the number of tourists in their home destination was the right solution. This is despite the fact that they felt tourism did incite challenges like traffic congestion (43%), overcrowding (40%), rising cost of living (36%) and littering (33%).
āIt is encouraging to see the definition of sustainable travel expanding on both sides of the lens,ā said Booking.com India country manager Santosh Kumar, āTravellers are increasingly seeing it not just as an environmental concern, but as something deeply connected to local communities.ā
As tourists from 3 key states cancel in droves, visitors from South India keep a date with Kashmir
Rauf Tramboo, president of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir, said that estimates indicate a loss of Rs 5,000-6,000 crore this tourist season.
With tourism in Kashmir dealt a blow, stakeholders in the sector are finding a āray of hopeā from visitors from the southern states. Businesses say that while there is a near-total cancellation of bookings from three key states ā Gujarat, Maharashtra and West Bengal ā those from the South are keeping a date with the Valley.
āWhatever damage had to happen has happened,ā said Rauf Tramboo, president of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir. āCancellations have tapered to some extent, though there are no new arrivals,ā he said.
Tramboo said that estimates indicate a loss of Rs 5,000-6,000 crore this tourist season, especially given that visitors from Gujarat, Maharashtra and West Bengal are cancelling in droves. North Indian states, stakeholders say, arenāt major contributors to the sector
āBut there are very few cancellations from South Indian, which contributes 20-25 per cent, and that has given us a ray of hope,ā Tramboo said. āWe have also got some new queries for May and June.ā
The tourist season in Kashmir starts in mid-March and lasts until mid-June, when summer vacations are announced in most parts of India. While July and August are traditionally lean periods, tourists return to the Valley in September.
āWe are also going slow on promotions because of what happened,ā said Tramboo. āSummer season is as good as over; now we are planning for autumn and winter.ā
Manzoor Ahmad Pakhtoon, president of the Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association, said, āThe government will have the exact figures. But what we can see from bookings and cancellations is that tourism is down by 90 per cent. From April 5 to June 9, houseboats used to be fully packed, but there is hardly anyone here.ā
Stakeholders said the governmentās decision to close 49 tourist destinations to visitors will add to the pain.
āYou now have three major tourist destinations left ā Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam. If a tourist goes to Pahlagam, he canāt move to Aru, Baisaran or Betab valley,ā Tramboo said.
Muzamil Ahmad Wani, a resident of Srinagar, was constructing a restaurant and a hut at Dodapathri after quitting his job. The Dodaptahri resort in Budgam, 45 km from Srinagar city, is one of the 49 areas on the closure list. āI left my engineering job and took a loan (to do up the resort). It is now closed even for locals,ā he said.
Gurez, a valley on the Line of Control in Bandipore, has been closed for both tourists and locals from Kashmir. Mehmood Ahmad, who runs the Gurez Inn Hotel and Restaurant, said, āThe Army has put a checkpoint at Tragbal (on the way to Gurez) and no one is allowed any further,ā he said.
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