Tourism hit again by bomb threat
The ongoing security concerns have once again hit the tourism industry in the holy city, as is evident from the downturn in room occupancy.
Widely regarded as the backbone of the local economy, the hospitality and travel industry has once again been severely affected following an email bomb threat targeting the Golden Temple, the holiest Sikh shrine in the world, which draws devotees from across India and around the globe.
Gurinder Singh Johal, Chairman of the Punjab Chapter of the Indian Association of Tour Operators, said that this fifth email threat points to a deeper conspiracy aimed at derailing the tourism sector, which is the lifeline of the city. “It is the duty of the Central Government to find out those responsible. This is a serious matter for concern and is directly linked to the economic growth of both Punjab and Kashmir. The issue must be thoroughly probed and the culprits brought to justice,” he added.
He further advised the public and the management of the Golden Temple to remain vigilant in order to thwart any mischievous design and activities.
Surinder Singh, a hotelier, said that although the summer vacation season had already ended, advance bookings in both luxury and mid-range hotels were cancelled due to the threats. “These two visitor segments also contribute significantly through shopping and by booking tours to nearby hill states. The threats of explosives and recent skirmishes with Pakistan are holding back travellers from going ahead with their planned itinerary,” he said, adding that the industry is incurring significant losses.
Earlier, the city witnessed a sharp decline in tourist influx due to border hostilities between India and Pakistan that lasted for four days last month. Tensions escalated after India targeted terror camps inside Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
The tourism industry was gradually recovering from the impact of the Pahalgam attack, which had stretched over several weeks. The situation eventually stabilised following a ceasefire agreement between the two nations, but not before the area endured four consecutive nights of drone attacks.
It is important to mention that Amritsar derives significant employment and economic activity from tourism. Incidents like these disrupt tourist inflow and adversely affect local businesses and livelihoods.
Amritsar