Indian tourists are calling off trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan after both nations publicly supported Pakistan during recent geopolitics tensions with India. This backlash follows statements by Turkey and Azerbaijan that aligned with Islamabad, particularly after Operation Sindoor and the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
Travel platforms like MakeMyTrip reported a 60% drop in bookings and a 250% spike in cancellations. EaseMyTrip also noted a sharp increase in cancellations 22% for Turkey and 30% for Azerbaijan with Travellers now preferring countries like Georgia, Serbia, Greece, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In a strong message, Ixigo and EaseMyTrip suspended all booking to Turkey, Azerbaijan, and China. Industry leaders, including EaseMyTrip’s Nishant Pitti and ICC’s Subhash Goyal, urged Indian travellers to avoid countries that stand against India’s anti-terror operations.
The tourism industry has united to priorities national interest, promoting responsible travel that aligns with India’s values and geopolitical stance.
Booking for Azerbaijan and Turkey down by Indian Tourists:
More Indians are reconsidering their travel plans to countries like Turkey and Azerbaijan after the two nations sided with Pakistan in the conflict against India. Turkey and Azerbaijan are often seen as popular destinations for Indian travel and hospitality industry reveals a sharp decline in both new booking and interest in these countries. Travellers are willing to absorb losses from cancellation charges as geopolitical tensions shape narratives.
India’s outbound travel market is incredibly lucrative. And the Maldives learned this the hard way after one of their ministers made disparaging remarks about the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The backlash from Indian travellers was swift, leading to a sharp decline in tourism and a significant hit to the country’s economy.
“Indian tourists are once again showing their disapproval by avoiding destinations that do not align with India’s national interest. Many users are encouraging their fellow Indians to shift their focus on domestic tourism.
