India's travel sentiment has taken a decisive turn. Thousands of Indian tourists are cancelling trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan, sending shockwaves through the tourism industries of both countries. This backlash comes in response to their vocal support of Pakistan during the India-Pakistan tensions and Operation Sindoor earlier this year.
Why the Travel Boycott Began
In the wake of rising geopolitical friction between India and Pakistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan publicly sided with Islamabad. This stance triggered widespread disappointment among Indian citizens, especially frequent travelers, many of whom began promoting a boycott of both countries across social media and travel forums.
Travel companies and booking platforms also reported an uptick in customers requesting itinerary changes or cancellations for trips to these destinations.
Tourism Numbers Reflect the Sentiment
According to internal industry data and travel portals:
Bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan plunged by up to 60%
Cancellations surged 250%
Visa applications fell by nearly 42%
In June 2025, only 24,250 Indian tourists traveled to Turkey, marking a 36% year-on-year decline
This marks one of the steepest single-season drop-offs for outbound travel from India in recent years.
Industry Takes a Hit
Travel agencies have started removing Turkey and Azerbaijan from promotional campaigns. Some have paused new tour packages and hotel bookings to both destinations. The ripple effect is also being felt in local economies that depend on Indian tourists, particularly in cities like Istanbul and Baku.
Companies like MakeMyTrip even issued a statement acknowledging that Indian travelers were expressing their dissatisfaction through cancellations and shifting preferences.
Travel Trends Now Shift Elsewhere
Previously on the rise as favorite international getaways, Turkey and Azerbaijan have now dropped off the radar for many Indian holidaymakers. Instead, destinations like Thailand, Vietnam, and the UAE are seeing a spike in bookings.
This turn of events underscores how international relations and political decisions can have real-time economic consequences—especially in sectors like tourism that are deeply sensitive to public sentiment.