Indians drop Turkey travel plans after comments backing Pakistan
INDIANS are backing out of trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan, data from travel websites show, after the two nations issued statements supporting Pakistan during heightened conflict between the South Asian rivals.
Bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan fell 60% and cancellations surged 250% over the past one week compared with the period before tensions flared, Makemytrip Ltd. said Wednesday. Leaders of the two nations had issued statements supporting Pakistan following an Indian military strike, which has since ended in a ceasefire.
'We strongly support this sentiment and advise all against all non-essential travel to Azerbaijan and Turkey,' a spokesperson for the travel platform said, adding that it has discontinued promotions and offers to the two destinations.
Other travel platforms including Ixigo operator Le Travenues Technology Ltd., Easy Trip Planners Ltd. and Cox & Kings Ltd. also stopped offering promotions or travel services to Turkey and Azerbaijan, in addition to China.
'We will continue to monitor the situation closely and resume operations when it is appropriate and responsible to do so,' Karan Agarwal, a director at Cox & Kings, had said in a statement.
This isn't the first time Indians — or the nation's businesses — have supported boycott calls. Last year, Maldives became a target after some officials in the island country derided Indian leader Narendra Modi.
Turkey and Azerbaijan had emerged as a popular destination for Indians as travel surged post-pandemic, given their proximity and affordability. InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., which runs India's largest airline IndiGo, has operated direct flights to Baku in Azerbaijan since 2023.
About half a million Indians visited Turkey in 2024, up about 100% from 2019, according to India's aviation regulator. Over 80,000 Indians visited Azerbaijan in 2024.
Le Travenues, Easy Trip and Cox & Kings didn't immediately respond to requests seeking further comments about their offerings for trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan.
A prominent Indian university has also ended a student exchange program with Turkey until further notice, citing national security concerns.
A political leader in Mumbai led a delegation to the Mumbai International Airport Ltd., urging them to end their association with Turkish firm Celebi NAS Airport Services, which handles around 70% of the ground operations at Mumbai airport, local media reported.
'We appreciate the sensible, patient policy of the Pakistani state, which prioritizes dialogue and compromise in resolving disputes,' Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in an X post Wednesday. 'We will continue to be by your side in good and bad times, as we have in the past and in the future.'
Azerbaijan expressed solidarity with Pakistan and condemned India's military attacks in a statement on May 7.
Their statements drew criticism from Indian political leaders, with growing calls to end trade and business relations with the two countries. –BLOOMBERG
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