Amid growing social media campaigns and diplomatic tensions, online travel agencies and individual tourists in India are pulling the plug on their plans to visit Turkey and Azerbaijan. The backlash follows controversial statements and continued diplomatic support by these countries to Pakistan, particularly in global forums where Indian interests are concerned.
Major online travel portals like EaseMyTrip, Cox &Kings, and ixigo have begun temporarily suspending holiday packages, tours, and flight bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Meanwhile, more than 800 members of the Jain Lotus Group in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, have cancelled their post-Diwali travel plans to Turkey, citing the country’s recent show of support for Pakistan.
Tour operators from cities like Ahmedabad, Surat, and Rajkot confirm a visible drop in interest and last-minute cancellations. The move is a direct result of the ongoing boycott calls by Indian citizens on social media platforms such as X, where hashtags like #BoycottTurkey and #BoycottAzerbaijan have been trending in recent days.
Turkey’s Tourism is Dependent on Indian Travelers
India has been a significant contributor to Turkey’s tourism revenue in recent years. In 2024 alone, over 3.3 lakh Indian tourists visited Turkey, making it one of the top outbound destinations. Indian weddings, luxury travel, and spiritual tours are among the top segments generating income for Turkey from Indian visitors.
Indian netizens and nationalist groups have since urged people to stop supporting tourism and businesses that do not align with national interests.
With the tourism season approaching and global travel slowly recovering post-pandemic, this sudden shift might financially impact both Turkey and Azerbaijan’s tourism sectors, especially given the spending power of Indian outbound travelers.
