In the wake of recent geopolitical tensions, Indian travelers are increasingly canceling trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan. MakeMyTrip, a leading travel booking platform, has reported a 60% drop in new bookings and a staggering 250% surge in cancellations to these countries over the past week.
🇮🇳 Background: Operation Sindoor and Its Aftermath
The catalyst for this travel boycott stems from Operation Sindoor, an Indian military initiative launched in response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025. Following the operation, Turkey and Azerbaijan publicly expressed support for Pakistan, leading to widespread public outrage in India.
📉 Impact on Travel Industry
The backlash has significantly impacted the travel industry
- MakeMyTrip: Reported a 60% decline in bookings and a 250% increase in cancellations for Turkey and Azerbaijan.
- EaseMyTrip: Experienced a 22% rise in cancellations for Turkey and 30% for Azerbaijan.
- Cleartrip: Noted a 260% surge in cancellations.
- Ixigo: Suspended all bookings to Turkey, Azerbaijan, and China.
🛑 Travel Agencies Respond
In solidarity with national sentiment, travel agencies have taken decisive actions
- MakeMyTrip: Discontinued all promotions and offers related to Turkey and Azerbaijan.
- EaseMyTrip: Issued advisories against non-essential travel to these countries.
- Go Homestays: Ended its partnership with Turkish Airlines.
🌍 Shift to Alternative Destinations
Travelers are redirecting their plans to other countries perceived as more favorable:
- Georgia, Serbia, Greece, Thailand, and Vietnam have emerged as popular alternatives
- Russia, Germany, and Singapore are also seeing increased interest.
💬 Public Sentiment and Economic Implications
Prominent figures have voiced support for the boycott:
- Harsh Goenka, industrialist: Urged Indians to avoid Turkey and Azerbaijan, highlighting that Indian tourists contributed over ₹4,000 crore to their economies last year.
- Praveen Khandelwal, CAIT Secretary General: Called for a boycott of travel to these nations.
The economic impact is significant, with Turkey potentially losing $291.6 million and Azerbaijan $308.6 million from Indian tourism revenue. @EconomicTimes
