Tourism declines in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir

In Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, rising tensions with India have negatively impacted tourism, with once-busy roads and picturesque scenic spots now seeing declined tourist traffic.

With heightened security concerns near the Line of Control, many tourists are halting their trips short, spending time at smaller viewpoints instead of going on to the main valley.

"If authorities knew the situation was tense, they should've stopped us at the first checkpoint. We could've turned back or gone elsewhere. We're disappointed but since we were already here, we decided to make the most of it," said Sabeeha Ibrahim, a tourist from Pakistan’s Lahore City.

It's an unexpected change that has upset both travelers and local businesses.

"We came with high hopes. The kids were excited. But people here are telling us not to go further. We weren't warned, and now we've wasted our time and money," said Ahmed Anwar, another tourist from Lahore. This region, once a magnet for tourists, is now quiet.

Ongoing tensions with India and recent security fears have led to cancellations, empty hotels, and growing uncertainty for those who rely on tourism to survive.

For hotel owners like Waseer Abbasi, who runs a ten-room guesthouse in Neelum Valley, this drop in footfall is devastating. What should be the peak season has become a dry spell.

"It's been a week without a single tourist. Thousands used to visit the valley, but now they're stopped at the entry point. My business has taken a serious hit," he said.

The sharp decline in tourism is also affecting shopkeepers, guides, and transporters who depend on this seasonal income. What was supposed to be a boost for the local economy is now becoming a burden.

"We've had to lay off our staff and send them home. All our rooms are vacant, not a single booking. Tourists just aren't being allowed in," said Abbasi.

Tourism declines in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir

Tourism declines in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir

Tourism declines in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir

Tourism declines in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.

In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.

Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.

Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.

Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.

He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.

He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation