Srinagar, July 4 -- Srinagar- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said tour groups had begun cancelling planned visits to Kashmir over the proposed weekly closure of Srinagar International Airport, as he welcomed the withdrawal of the plan as a "huge relief" for the Union Territory.

"This Monday-Tuesday thing was hitting us very hard. Just yesterday, I spoke to some people from the tourism sector and many of their groups had started cancelling," Omar told reporters.

The Chief Minister said he had repeatedly taken up the proposed airport closure with the Centre, including with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Ever since this news came out, I have been contin...