New Delhi, May 17: Shaadi.com founder and entrepreneur Anupam Mittal has taken a bold stand for Kashmir tourism by booking a family trip to the Valley just weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
As fear grips the region and travel cancellations rise, Mittal’s message is clear: don’t let fear win—support Kashmir and its people by showing up.
Posting on social media platform X, Mittal shared a photo of his flight tickets to Kashmir with the caption:
“What Kashmir needs is tourists to come back, so I booked my ticket! If we vanish, they win. If we travel, Kashmir & India win.”
The entrepreneur also took to LinkedIn to elaborate, expressing concern over the economic impact on locals who had just started to rebuild their lives through tourism.
“The same Kashmir that was finally beginning to thrive — where tea sellers went from earning Rs 5,000 a month to Rs 5,000 a day — will now face cancelled trips, shuttered hotels, and a new wave of fear,” Mittal wrote.
Emphasizing solidarity, he urged fellow Indians to stand with the Valley, support local businesses, and not let the tourism economy collapse again.
“If we let fear win, then those who lost their lives in Pahalgam will have died in vain. We stood behind our Army. Now let’s stand beside our people.”
Mittal’s move quickly gained traction online, with users applauding his courage and leadership. One user commented, “This is more than a post — it’s a call to action wrapped in empathy and courage.”
Another added, “True patriotism means supporting those quietly rebuilding hope. Booking a ticket may seem small, but it sends a powerful message: we choose solidarity over silence.”
As Kashmir battles not just security concerns but also a crisis of confidence in its tourism sector, Mittal’s act could serve as a pivotal gesture, reminding the nation that the Valley needs presence, not pity.