Summer's well and truly here and schools and colleges are closing, but people are putting off holiday plans to Kashmir because of soaring airfares that are beating international ticket prices hands down.
A huge draw for holidaymakers because of its beautiful cities and locales, Kashmir is now almost beyond the reach of anyone wanting a budget holiday.
Return airfare from Delhi to Srinagar now costs between Rs 17,000 to Rs 22,000, which is more expensive than return tickets to popular international destinations such as the UAE, Thailand, and Malaysia, costs of which start at around Rs 15,000.
Many people are trying out options which can be time-consuming and also add to expenses. “We took a train from Delhi to Jammu, and from there we managed to book a cab to Srinagar since the tickets were very expensive." Once you add up the costs you realise you could easily travel to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Dubai," said Puja, a traveller from Delhi.
On average, Srinagar airport hosts 10,000 to 12,000 incoming visitors every day. However, during peak tourist season, the number of incoming tourists increases by 3,000-5,000 per day.
Kashmir residents who have to travel to other parts of the country for medical treatment or employment are facing problems too.
"The government should take strong action against those guilty of unfair pricing. A mechanism to cap airfares is critical to preventing hardship for all," said a member of the J&K Hoteliers’ Association.
However, airline officials contend that the price increase is merely a result of supply and demand, citing the high cost of fuel and operational overheads.
Any attempts to restrict pricing might result in diminished flight availability, they say.
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