Indian travelers are increasingly canceling their trips to popular tourist destinations Turkey and Azerbaijan following both countries’ public support for Pakistan amid recent tensions with India, according to reports from leading travel agencies cited by Reuters.
Calls to boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan have gained momentum in India after these nations sided with Pakistan during the ongoing conflict triggered by the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 civilians dead. Azerbaijan echoed Pakistan’s stance on the conflict, while Turkey backed Pakistan’s demand for an international probe into the attack. Turkey has also been known to supply weapons to Pakistan.
Travel platforms have reported significant drops in bookings and spikes in cancellations. MakeMyTrip reported a 60% decline in bookings for these countries over the past week, with cancellations soaring by 250%. EaseMyTrip also noted a 22% increase in cancellations for Turkey and 30% for Azerbaijan, with travelers shifting their plans to alternative destinations like Georgia, Serbia, Greece, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The CEO of EaseMyTrip, Rikant Pittie, emphasized the impact of geopolitical tensions on travel patterns, while the company Ixigo has temporarily paused bookings to Turkey, Azerbaijan, and China.
Industry leaders, including Subhash Goyal, Chairman of the Tourism Committee at the Indian Chamber of Commerce, have voiced support for an ethical and responsible tourism approach that aligns with India’s national interests. Several tourism bodies have backed a boycott of Turkey and Azerbaijan due to their stance against India’s counter-terrorism measures.
The recent surge in tensions followed India’s military operation “Operation Sindoor,” launched in retaliation to the Pahalgam attack. Indian forces targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. A ceasefire agreement was reached between India and Pakistan on May 10, though diplomatic strains remain high.