Bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey have plummeted by 60% in the past week

Indian travel agencies are reporting a sharp drop in bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan after the two nations publicly supported Pakistan during its recent escalation with India, sparking a growing travel boycott movement.

Following last month’s terror attack in Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad, tensions soared across the region. India launched precision strikes against what it called terrorist camps in Pakistan, prompting retaliatory rhetoric and statements of solidarity for Pakistan from Ankara and Baku.

Indian travelers, known for their significant contribution to the tourism economy of both countries, have responded strongly.

"Bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey have plummeted by 60% in the past week, with cancellations soaring 250%," said a spokesperson for leading travel platform MakeMyTrip.

EaseMyTrip CEO Rikant Pittie confirmed a similar trend: “We’ve recorded a 22% rise in cancellations for Turkey and 30% for Azerbaijan due to the recent geopolitical tensions,” he said, adding that Indian tourists are now choosing destinations like Georgia, Serbia, Greece, Thailand, and Vietnam instead.

Ticketing platform ixigo has gone a step further, announcing a suspension of flight and hotel bookings to Turkey, Azerbaijan, and China — another country perceived as unsupportive of India’s recent stance.

EaseMyTrip founder Nishant Pitti voiced strong sentiment in a post on X, noting, “287,000 Indians visited Turkey last year, and 243,000 went to Azerbaijan. When these nations openly support Pakistan, should we continue to fuel their tourism and their economies?”

The trend marks a significant shift in consumer sentiment, as Indian tourists flex their economic influence in response to international political positions.