By News Today India | Published: May 15, 2025

Indian tourists are saying no to travel plans for Turkey and Azerbaijan. Why? These countries supported Pakistan during a recent India-Pakistan conflict, and many Indians are upset. This boycott is hitting the tourism industries of Turkey and Azerbaijan hard, as Indian travelers choose other destinations like Armenia and Greece. Here’s everything you need to know about this big news in simple words.

What Sparked the Boycott?

On April 22, 2025, a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, shocked India. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, a military strike targeting terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Turkey and Azerbaijan publicly backed Pakistan, with Turkey calling India’s actions “provocative” and Azerbaijan claiming the strikes harmed civilians. This angered many Indians, who see Pakistan’s role in terrorism as a serious issue.

Reports also surfaced that Pakistan used Turkish-made drones, like the Asisguard Songar, against India. This news fueled public outrage, leading to a massive boycott movement on social media. Hashtags like #BoycottTurkey and #BoycottAzerbaijan started trending, urging Indians to stop visiting these countries.

Why Were Turkey and Azerbaijan Popular with Indian Tourists?

Turkey and Azerbaijan have been favorite travel spots for Indians in recent years. Why? They offer rich culture, beautiful landscapes, and affordable trips. In 2024, around 330,000 Indians visited Turkey, spending about $350-400 million. Azerbaijan welcomed 243,589 Indian tourists, a huge jump from the previous year. New flight routes, like IndiGo’s direct flights to Istanbul (since 2019) and Baku (since 2023), made these trips easier and cheaper.

Turkey’s stunning sites like Istanbul’s Blue Mosque and Cappadocia’s hot air balloons, along with Azerbaijan’s modern capital Baku, attracted Indian families, honeymooners, and adventure seekers. But now, the boycott is changing everything.

How the Boycott is Hurting Tourism

The boycott has caused a big drop in travel bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan. Here’s what’s happening:

• MakeMyTrip: This popular travel platform saw a 60% drop in bookings for Turkey and Azerbaijan. Cancellations jumped by 250% in just one week before May 15, 2025. The company issued a travel advisory, asking people to avoid non-essential trips to these countries out of respect for India’s soldiers.
• EaseMyTrip: Reported 22% cancellations for Turkey and 30% for Azerbaijan. They also advised against non-essential travel, saying Indian tourists should support countries that respect India.
• Ixigo and Cox & Kings: Both stopped new bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan. Ixigo even paused bookings for China, showing strong support for India. Cox & Kings’ director said they want to stand with the nation’s pride.
• Travomint: Stopped selling tickets for Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Corendon Airlines, and Azerbaijan Airlines.

Other travel companies like Pickyourtrail and Go Homestays have also paused bookings or ended partnerships with Turkish companies. However, some platforms like MakeMyTrip are still allowing bookings for Turkey as a layover hub, as Istanbul is a major stop for flights to Europe.

Why Tourism Matters to Turkey and Azerbaijan

Tourism is a big part of these countries’ economies. In Turkey, it makes up 12% of the economy and provides jobs for 10% of workers. In Azerbaijan, tourism contributes 7.6% to the economy. Indian tourists spend a lot—around $1,200-1,500 per person in Turkey. With fewer Indians visiting, both countries could lose millions of dollars.

In 2024, Indian tourists spent nearly $480 million in Turkey and Azerbaijan combined. A boycott could hurt hotels, tour guides, restaurants, and shops that depend on Indian visitors.

Where Are Indian Tourists Going Instead?

With Turkey and Azerbaijan off the list, Indian travelers are looking at other destinations. Countries like Armenia, Greece, Georgia, Serbia, Thailand, and Vietnam are becoming popular. These places are seen as friendly to India and offer similar attractions—beautiful scenery, rich history, and affordable travel. For example, Armenia is gaining attention because India has become its biggest arms supplier, showing a strong bond.

Beyond Tourism: Impact on Trade

The boycott isn’t just about travel. Indian businesses are also cutting ties with Turkey. For example, India imports 70% of its marble from Turkey, but traders are now looking at Iran, Italy, or even Indian marble from Rajasthan. Turkish apples are also being replaced with apples from Himachal Pradesh, New Zealand, or Poland. Online shopping platforms are reducing Turkish products to support the boycott.

Social Media Fuels the Movement

Social media is playing a huge role in spreading the boycott. Indians are sharing posts about the $4,000 crore (around $480 million) spent by Indian tourists in Turkey and Azerbaijan in 2024. Famous people like businessman Harsh Goenka and politician Priyanka Chaturvedi have supported the boycott, asking travelers to choose destinations like Armenia or Greece instead. Social media users are also highlighting how 570,000 Indians visited these two countries last year, showing the power of Indian tourism.

Why Turkey and Azerbaijan Support Pakistan

Turkey and Azerbaijan have close ties with Pakistan. Turkey supplies weapons like Bayraktar drones and Kemankes missiles to Pakistan, making it Pakistan’s second-biggest arms supplier after China. Azerbaijan supports Pakistan because of its strong friendship with Turkey and Pakistan’s help during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia. Meanwhile, India has grown closer to Armenia, becoming its top arms supplier in 2024.

Will the Boycott Last?

The boycott is strong right now, but will it continue? A similar boycott of the Maldives in 2024, after its leaders insulted India’s Prime Minister, led to a big drop in Indian tourists. Turkey and Azerbaijan might face the same fate if public anger stays high. However, some people argue that boycotts hurt local businesses, like shopkeepers and hotel workers, more than governments. Others say Turkey’s role as a flight hub makes a full boycott tricky.

What’s Next for Indian Travelers?

The boycott of Turkey and Azerbaijan shows how strongly Indians feel about their country’s pride and security. By choosing destinations that support India, travelers are sending a clear message. As the situation unfolds, News Today India will keep you updated on how this boycott affects travel, trade, and India’s global relations.

Have you changed your travel plans because of this boycott? Share your thoughts with News Today India in the comments below!