Escalating India-Pakistan conflicts negatively impact tourism within the Kashmiri valley.

Escalating India-Pakistan conflicts negatively impact tourism within the Kashmiri valley.

The simmering dispute between India and Pakistan has taken a toll on the tourism sector in the Neelum Valley, a major tourist hub in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Since the deadly cross-border shooting that claimed 26 civilian lives in Indian-administered Kashmir, the region has seen a significant drop in tourists.

India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, authorised the military to act accordingly in response, heightening the already tense atmosphere. Simultaneously, Pakistan claimed they had intelligence suggesting that India planned imminent strikes.

Typically, the Neelum Valley sees a surge in tourists during the cooler months of May as the rest of Pakistan heats up. However, this year's tourism season has started off disastrously. As Muhammad Awais, a 22-year-old local photographer, put it, "It's been a really bad start."

The tourist industry is the lifeblood of the Neelum Valley, drawing over 300,000 visitors each year from across Pakistan, according to district administrations. Local residents rely on these tourists, who employ thousands of families through around 350 guesthouses. Their livelihoods are severely affected by the absence of tourists, as Awais lamented, "Without tourism, we suffer."

As a result of the escalating tensions, authorities have restricted tourist access to the valley, diverting them back to Muzaffarabad. Saleem Uddin Siddique, a 69-year-old tourist from Islamabad, voiced his frustration, "Our hopes have been dashed."

Despite international pressure urging dialogue, the two countries have been locked in a series of military skirmishes along the Line of Control, the de-facto border between the two nuclear powers, for nine nights running according to Indian defense sources.

In response, Pakistan tested a surface-to-surface missile, allegedly to demonstrate readiness. While diplomatic channels have been used to settle the differences between the two nations, frequent wars over the disputed Kashmir region since the end of British rule in 1947 continue to poison their relations.

Businesses in the valley are deeply concerned about the impact of ongoing conflict on their livelihoods. As Raja Iftikhar Khan, president of the private tourism association, admitted, "This disruption has been devastating for all those tied to tourism." Khan emphasized, "We don't want war -- no sensible businessperson ever does."

Although some tourists remain unperturbed, the threat of potential war has left an indelible mark on the tourism industry in the Neelum Valley. As tensions continue to escalate, it remains unclear whether this fragile peace will hold, and how much more the Neelum Valley's economy might suffer.

© 2025 AFP

Insights:- Tensions between India and Pakistan have triggered a significant decline in tourism to the Neelum Valley, which relies heavily on tourist revenue to sustain its local economy.- Thousands of families depend on roughly 350 guesthouses for their livelihoods, and the absence of tourists has affected them severely.- Authorities have restricted tourist access to the valley due to escalating tensions, resulting in the disappointment and frustration of tourists.- Business owners in the valley are deeply concerned about the ongoing disruption and its long-term impact on the region's economy.

1. The ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have led to increased concern among businesses in the Neelum Valley, particularly those tied to the tourism industry.
2. With thousands of families relying on tourism employment provided by around 350 guesthouses, the drop in tourist numbers due to the escalating dispute between the two countries is a pressing issue.
3. International pressure to initiate dialogue between India and Pakistan has been met with military skirmishes along the Line of Control, leading to worries about the long-term impact on the livelihoods of those living in the Neelum Valley.
4. As the conflict persists, tourists remain unperturbed by the potential threat of war, leaving an indelible mark on the Neelum Valley's tourism industry that may further affect its fragile peace.
5. Indian Defense sources indicate that the tense situation between India and Pakistan has been ongoing for nine nights, and Pakistan responded by testing a surface-to-surface missile. However, despite the armed rhetoric, the president of the private tourism association in the Neelum Valley emphasized, "We don't want war -- no sensible businessperson ever does."

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