Srinagar, Nov. 24 -- The alleged involvement of a few Kashmiri men in the Delhi car blast has given a further blow to the tourism sector in Kashmir which was already struggling this year owing to the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Recovery of tourism in Kashmir had been painfully slow this year, with many, including chief minister Omar Abdullah, having pinned their hopes on weather to attract more tourists following the early snow activity in the Valley in early October. But hopes were dashed when Delhi was rocked with the blast of a car driven by a Kashmir doctor on November 10 that killed 12 people and injured several others. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested six people in the case, part of what the police say is a "white collar terror module", including two Kashmir doctors working outside the UT. "Owing to the involvement of Kashmiri residents in the Delhi blast and the accidental blast in Nowgam Police Station on November 14, people are hesitant to visit here," said Sajad Kralyari, secretary general of Travel Agents Association of Kashmir(TAAK), adding tourist turnout is very low. Soon after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 people dead, most of them tourists, in Baisaran meadow in south Kashmir on April 22, there was an immediate flight of tourists out of the valley and J&K government closed more than 50 tourist destinations. After a security review, around 28 places have been reopened in a phased manner and tour operators were hopeful after the tourism had started picking up in October owing to early snowfall and government efforts. Wahid Malik, ex-president of Kashmir hotels and restaurant owners federation said the marginal improvement in tourism in September-October was owing to holidays and festival season. "The occupancy currently is hardly 2 to 5%," said Malik. However, not everyone has lost hope. Chairperson of J&K Waqf Board, Darakshan Andrabi, said they were hopeful of a comeback owing to upcoming winter games in Gulmarg. "The tourist footfall in Kashmir had been very good since 2019 but some unfortunate incidents plunged down the arrivals. But I am hopeful of this season when the Khelo India Winter Games are held in Gulmarg."...