India-Pakistan tensions hit tourism industry hard in Amritsar

Due to its proximity to the International Border with Pakistan, Amritsar finds itself at the heart of disruption, not just facing security concerns, but also experiencing an economic jolt.

The hospitality industry in Amritsar has been witnessing a tourism boom for the past few years, becoming one of the most visited cities in the country.

This is evident from air passengers doubling to over 20 lakh in 2022 from about 10 lakh in 2015, and the fact that hotels in the city have always remained booked.

Tensions escalated after Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s base in Muridke, in retaliation for the terror attack in Pahalgam.

Following this, the Amritsar airport was shut down indefinitely, halting all flight operations and leaving several passengers stranded.

The airport closure entirely cut off air connectivity to the city for both domestic and international tourists. Adding to the blow is the suspension of the popular daily retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border, a major draw for thousands of tourists.

With no timeline for its resumption, tour operators, guides and transport service providers find themselves jobless and without income.

Darbar Sahib manager Bhagwant Singh said, “Since the escalation, the footfall at the Darbar Sahib has dropped by around 25 per cent. Tourists and even devotees from other states and abroad are unable to visit here due to the suspension of flights and affected transport services.”

On Wednesday night, the Darbar Sahib, too, observed a rare blackout as a security measure. Jatinderpal Singh Moti Bhatia, a representative of the hotel industry, said, “Hotel occupancy in Amritsar has decelerated by 80 to 90 per cent. Tourism in Amritsar has suffered a major setback. This city’s economy is deeply tied to tourism.”

“This is the biggest drop we have seen in two decades. Even during the farmers’ agitation at Shambhu, we didn’t experience such a steep fall,” Bhatia said.

“Besides, the suspension of the retreat ceremony has affected the livelihoods of many auto and taxi drivers ferrying tourists to the border. The situation is not only alarming for security reasons but also disastrous for thousands who survive on tourism here, from hotel staff and food vendors to local transport operators,” Bhatia added.