Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Planning a trip to Kashmir for a peaceful Shikara ride in the gentle breeze or to enjoy the enchanting meadows and avoid the scorching sun? Brace yourself for a financial hit. Traveling to Kashmir by air has become quite an indulgence, thanks to unchecked airfares.
Airfares from Delhi to Srinagar have become significantly more expensive than flights from Delhi to Sri Lanka. This unusual pricing trend at the peak of the Tourism season in Kashmir has left travelers and aviation experts puzzled.
Astonishingly, traveling from Delhi to Dubai is too cheaper than traveling from the national capital to Srinagar as airfares to Kashmir have skyrocketed.
According to recent data, a one-way flight from Delhi to Colombo, Sri Lanka, costs around ₹10,369, while flights to Srinagar are priced at approximately ₹18,094. This stark difference in airfare has raised questions about the factors contributing to this disparity. Similarly, airfares from Mumbai to Srinagar were listed at Rs 21,843; from Bangalore, they exceeded Rs 20,000.
Pertinently, Kashmir in 2024, witnessed a significant surge in its tourism sector, with over three million domestic and international tourists.
Kashmir sees almost 100 flights daily, but the rise in fares continues. The average airfare from Delhi to Srinagar is typically Rs 4,000-5,000, but it has now soared to Rs 8,000-15,000. Fares to other cities across India have also seen a sharp spike.
Experts suggest that the lower fares to many countries could be due to increased competition among airlines and the availability of budget carriers on this route. On the other hand, the higher fares to Srinagar might be attributed to limited flight options and the shorter route duration, which reduces the number of available seats.
Interestingly, Sri Lanka is poised to make a significant leap in its tourism industry, aiming for 3 million tourist arrivals in 2025. This ambitious target comes on the heels of a projected 2.1 million visitors in 2024 as the nation steadily recovers from the economic challenges it faced in recent years.
As Sri Lanka gears up for this tourism surge, travelers across India can look forward to affordable getaways to the tropical paradise, making it an enticing alternative to domestic destinations like Kashmir.
