Impact assessment of lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic on tourism industry of Kashmir Valley, India

The term tourism includes those people that travel to different places, either locally, nationally or globally for vacation and relaxation, but also for social or economic motives. It is one of the progressive industries whose activities influence the economies of various nations to a great extent. It is significant to note that various past crises have troubled global tourism, but the rapidly evolving global COVID-19 pandemic has confronted this sensitive industry with unprecedented circumstances. The tourism sector contributes significantly to Kashmir’s economy, which is a land of unimaginable scenic beauty with a perfect nature with shining lakes, glaciers and meadows, colourful gardens, orchards and saffron fields, with the magnificent snowy Himalayas, and home of popular pilgrimage sites, in sum a perfect acclaimed tourist destination for national and international tourists. We have chosen it as the study area for the present paper. Tourism is a part of Kashmir valley’s tradition and contributes massively to its economic development. The present situations of travel and tourism has promoted the spread of highly infectious novel corona virus, which spoils tourism and raises serious questions about the future of this sector. The present paper addresses two important concerns: first it pertains to the unprecedented sociocultural and economic impacts that Kashmir’s tourism industry faces amid current conditions, and second it relates to the significant change in the tourist profession and other activities due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The study draws on documentary research with semi-structured interviews, using purposive sampling together with a phenomenological approach. The findings of the study provide a rapid assessment of the reported impacts of COVID-19 on Kashmir tourism all through 2020 with a speedy decrease in tourist arrivals including documented travel restrictions. The research revealed that the stakeholders of tourism changed their means of livelihood from tourism which comes to a halt, to other possible means and the differential regional impacts of the pandemic on tourist centres as well as the severe implications on the economic development of Kashmir Valley. The findings also reveal that lower economic groups (stakeholders of tourism) were deeply affected by this pandemic. Thus, recognizing the early impacts of COVID-19 and summing up estimates of the damage to the tourism economy amid lockdown and beyond is important to restore tourism activities in Kashmir, vital for people’s livelihoods.