The advisory, signed by Secretary (Tourism) V. Vidyavathi, urges travel service providers—including tour operators, travel agents, Online Travel Aggregators (OTAs), transport providers, hoteliers, and accommodation units—to extend all possible help to tourists, including waiving off cancellation charges.
“This is in the aftermath of the recent incident in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. It is requested that all the tourist service providers… may provide all possible assistance to the tourists including waiving off cancellation fees,” the advisory stated.
The circular has been addressed to major travel platforms such as MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Goibibo, ClearTrip, EaseMyTrip, Ixigo, Airbnb, Agoda, Thrillophilia, Booking.com, and Expedia, along with Tourism and Hospitality Industry Associations.
Copies of the advisory have also been sent to the Department of Tourism, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for further circulation and coordination.
This move is seen as a proactive step by the Ministry to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of tourists during a time of distress, reinforcing the government’s commitment to responsible and responsive tourism management.
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