Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: In a strong show of national sentiment, Indian travellers are cancelling trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan en masse after both countries publicly supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 Indian tourists.
Travel platforms report a sharp drop
Leading travel agencies MakeMyTrip and EaseMyTrip have confirmed a massive drop in bookings and a surge in cancellations for Turkey and Azerbaijan in the past week.
“Bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey have decreased by 60%, while cancellations have surged by 250%,” said MakeMyTrip in a statement on Wednesday.
Though both destinations remain listed on their platforms, MakeMyTrip added:
“Out of deep respect for our armed forces, we strongly discourage non-essential travel to Azerbaijan and Turkey. All promotions and offers for these destinations have been discontinued.”
EaseMyTrip takes a firm stand
EaseMyTrip co-founder Nishant Pitti said 22% of Turkey-bound trips and 30% to Azerbaijan were cancelled recently. He urged citizens to boycott these destinations, citing their pro-Pakistan stance during India’s anti-terror operations.
Pitti also raised broader concerns about endorsements of Chinese products and platforms, asking users to place national interest above convenience or profit.
Tourism boycott may hit economies hard
India has become a key source market for both countries.
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In 2024, 243,589 Indian tourists visited Azerbaijan.
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Turkey welcomed 330,000 Indian visitors, up from just 119,503 in 2014.
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The average Indian tourist in Turkey spends $1,200–$1,500, contributing around $350–400 million annually to Turkey’s economy.
With tourism making up 12% of Turkey’s GDP and providing 10% of total employment, the economic fallout of an Indian tourism boycott could be substantial.
