Jammu, July 2 -- With the annual Amarnath Yatra underway under tight security arrangements, traders across Kashmir are expressing renewed optimism that the smooth and peaceful conduct of this year's pilgrimage could help revive the tourism-dependent economy of the region, which suffered a massive blow following the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam earlier this year.
The April 22 attack, in which several innocent lives were lost, shook the tranquil tourist town of Pahalgam and cast a long shadow over Kashmir's tourism sector. Widely condemned across the country, the carnage not only triggered widespread fear but also led to a significant number of cancellations in hotel bookings and tour packages at the start of what is traditionally the V...