SNE NETWORK.AMRITSAR/CHANDIGARH.
There is an atmosphere of tension in the border area due to the air strike by India in PoK. Tourism in Punjab has been deeply affected due to speculations of war between India and Pakistan. 96 percent tourists who came to Amritsar have vacated the hotels and returned.
Heritage Street, which is bustling with tourists in Amritsar and leads to Sri Harimandir Sahib, did not show any hustle and bustle on Wednesday. After the attack on tourists in Pahalgam, tourists coming from other states started cancelling their bookings in Amritsar hotels. At the same time, very few devotees were seen in Sri Harimandir Sahib and Sri Durgiana Temple on Wednesday as compared to everyday. The city’s markets also appeared mostly deserted. The area around Sri Harimandir is very crowded, there too the markets and roads were deserted.
Hotel and Guest House Association president Surinder Singh said that due to the panic in the border area and the announcement of mock drill in the city, 50 percent of the tourists had vacated the hotels on Tuesday night itself. At present, only seven to ten percent tourists are in the hotels, they are also preparing to leave. The arrival of tourists was expected to increase in the summer holidays, but in these circumstances, fewer tourists will come.
Inner City Hotel Association vice president Satnam Singh Kanda and Hotel and Restaurant Association president AP Singh Chatta said that the hotel rooms are almost empty. Kartarpur Corridor, Retreat Ceremony at Wagah Border and the airport have been closed. Now tourists are not heading towards Amritsar. All old bookings in hotels have been cancelled. There are 10 percent people in the hotels. At the same time, those whose flights have been cancelled have also packed to go by some other means.