In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in April, which claimed 26 lives, Bengaluru‘s hospitality sector is witnessing a drop in sales and footfalls, particularly in the wake of increasing tensions between India and Pakistan. According to PC Rao, President of the Bangalore Hotels Association, it’s too early to fully assess the impact, but many hotels are reporting a decrease in foreign tourists and business meetings. “Foreign visitors are now hesitant to travel to India, and star hotels, especially those near popular tourist spots, will likely be impacted. However, darshinis (local eateries) may not feel much of a change,” he noted.
The heightened security measures have also affected other businesses. A popular brewery in JP Nagar reported over 180 reservation cancellations out of 310 due to the suspension of the IPL match. However, another major brewpub in the city stated that it was too soon to gauge the full extent of the business downturn. “We’ll have a clearer picture after the weekend,” said the brewpub’s manager.
In contrast, flag sales in Bengaluru have surged, with a 10% to 15% increase in sales as people, institutions, and political groups show solidarity with the Indian Armed Forces and the victims of the Pahalgam attack. A flag shop manager in Cottonpet mentioned that a private college ordered 1,500 flags for an upcoming event in support of the Armed Forces. “There have been more inquiries about flags since Thursday,” he added.
Read Also: