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Business Standard
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Indians drop Turkey, Azerbaijan plans: Travel cancellations up 250%
Indian tourists have been cancelling trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan in large numbers following recent statements from both countries backing Pakistan after India's military action across the Line of Control. Online travel platforms MakeMyTrip and EaseMyTrip said they had seen a steep fall in bookings and a wave of cancellations to the two destinations over the past week. 'Indian travellers have expressed strong sentiments over the past one week, with bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey decreasing by 60%, while cancellations have surged by 250% during the same period,' said a spokesperson for MakeMyTrip. The platform added that it had pulled down all offers and promotions for both countries. 'In solidarity with our nation and out of deep respect for our armed forces, we strongly support this sentiment and advise against all non-essential travel to Azerbaijan and Turkey,' the company said. EaseMyTrip, which had earlier reported declining interest in these destinations, echoed similar views. 'Travel is a powerful tool. Let's not use it to empower those who don't stand with us,' said Nishant Pittie, founder and chairman of EaseMyTrip. He urged Indian travellers to reconsider where they spend their money. 'Every rupee we spend abroad is a vote. Let's spend it where our values are respected,' he added. According to data shared by EaseMyTrip, 287,000 Indians visited Turkey last year, while 243,000 travelled to Azerbaijan. Tourism is an important part of both economies: Turkey: 12% of GDP, 10% of employment Azerbaijan: 7.6% of GDP, 10% of employment Pickyourtrail last week had responded to the backlash. 'In light of recent events, we've made the decision to pause all new bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan. This is not a comment on the people, but a stance against policies that conflict with India's national interest,' said Hari Ganapathy, co-founder of the company. 'As an Indian travel company, our first duty is to the Indian traveller. Jai Hind,' he said. Go Homestays followed by ending its partnership with Turkish Airlines, while Cox & Kings suspended new packages to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkey. Why travellers are reacting The boycott follows statements issued on April 23, 2025, by the foreign ministries of Turkey and Azerbaijan after India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Azerbaijan's foreign ministry expressed concern over the escalation. 'We condemn military attacks against Pakistan that killed and injured civilians. We stand in solidarity with the people of Pakistan and express condolences to the families of the victims,' it said. In Islamabad, Turkey's ambassador met with Pakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar. According to a post on X by Pakistan's foreign ministry, Turkey described India's strike as an 'unprovoked violation of Pakistan's sovereignty'. Travel shifts to northeast India Meanwhile, the travel industry is seeing a shift in domestic preferences. Rajiv Mehra, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators and general secretary of the Federation Of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality, said that trips to states bordering Pakistan were being cancelled due to security concerns. 'Due to India-Pakistan tensions, people are cancelling their bookings to these places,' Mehra told Business Standard. 'However, the new trend that we have seen is that all these people who are cancelling their bookings to these regions are trying to book their trips to Darjeeling, Gangtok, Guwahati, and other parts in the northeast regions.'
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First Post
13-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
How India's boycott for supporting Pakistan will hurt Turkey, Azerbaijan
Indians have called for boycotting travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan, which have seen a growing interest as tourist spots in recent years. After the Indian Army revealed that Pakistan sent Turkish-made drones in border areas, the anger towards Ankara in India has increased, with even politicians supporting the idea of a ban on Turkish goods read more Tourists and commuters sail through Bosphorus on a ferry in Istanbul, Turkey, April 23, 2025. File Photo/Reuters Indians are calling for a boycott of travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan. Travel companies have joined this chorus by pausing bookings to these countries, citing national sentiments. Turkey and Azerbaijan drew the ire of social media users in India after coming out in support of Islamabad following Indian Armed Forces' strikes on nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor early May 7. Since then, there has been a clarion call to boycott travel to these nations as Indians question their pro-Pakistan stand. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Will India's boycott hurt Turkey and Azerbaijan? Let's take a look. Indians 'boycott' Turkey, Azerbaijan After India's Operation Sindoor, Ankara and Baku showed solidarity with Pakistan. Turkiye's foreign affairs ministry condemned India's 'unprovoked aggression violating Pakistan's sovereignty and killing innocent civilians'. It said Operation Sindoor raised the 'risk of an all-out war.' Turkey also called on both sides to 'exercise common sense and refrain from unilateral actions.' Later, the Indian Army revealed that the 300-400 drones sent by Pakistan across India's border areas in the wake of Operation Sindoor were Turkish-made Songar drones . Decrying India's military action, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement backing Islamabad. 'Being in solidarity with the people of Pakistan, we express condolences to the families of the innocent victims and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured. We call on all parties to exercise restraint and to resolve the conflict through diplomatic means," it said. This pro-Pakistan stance hurt the sentiments of Indians, with some calling for a travel boycott of these Muslim nations . Several travel companies have since paused bookings for Turkey and Azerbaijan. Travel platform EaseMyTrip issued an advisory, asking travellers to visit Turkey and Azerbaijan only if absolutely necessary. Its founder and chairman, Nishant Pittie, said, 'Following the Pahalgam attack and escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, travellers are urged to stay aware. As Turkey and Azerbaijan have shown support for Pakistan, we strongly recommend visiting only if absolutely necessary.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He advised people not to travel to these countries unless 'absolutely essential'. 'Please stay updated on current developments and exercise caution while making travel plans. We are deeply concerned by the recent developments. The safety of travellers is our top priority. We advise all our customers to exercise utmost caution and stay updated on official travel advisories before planning trips to sensitive regions," Pittie added. Ixigo has suspended all flight and hotel bookings to Turkey, China and Azerbaijan. 'Respecting the sentiments shared by all Indians at this time, we have suspended all flight and hotel bookings for Turkey, Azerbaijan, and China. Our commitment is to act responsibly and in alignment with our country's broader interests, while prioritising the trust, safety, and interests of Indian travellers. Blood and bookings won't flow together,' Aloke Bajpai, CEO of Ixigo, told ThePrint. For the love of our nation, we stand united. — ixigo (@ixigo) May 10, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD WanderOn, a D2C (direct-to-consumer) travel-technology firm, has also shut bookings for the two nations. 'We have closed the bookings for these two places and we are not making any new bookings. As for the existing bookings for the two places, Indians are saying they don't want to travel and are asking for a refund to check to reschedule their travel to other destinations,' the company's chief executive officer and founder, Govind Gaur, was quoted as saying by Moneycontrol. Cox & Kings said it will temporarily stop all new travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkey. 'In light of recent developments, we have decided to pause all new travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey. This decision is driven by our commitment to uphold principles that matter deeply to us and the people of our country. We also advise Indian travellers to exercise discretion and avoid any non-essential travel to these destinations until there is greater clarity and alignment in the broader geopolitical environment,' said Karan Agarwal, Director, Cox & Kings. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Travel accommodation brand Go Homestays has ended its partnership with Turkish Airlines. 'We are officially ending our partnership with Turkish Airlines due to their unsupportive stance towards India. Going forward, we will no longer include their flights in our international travel packages,' the firm said. Travomint has also reportedly suspended all travel packages to Turkey and Azerbaijan. In numbers: Indian tourists in Turkey, Azerbaijan The demand for travel to Turkey and the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, has jumped in recent years. According to Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 3,30,000 Indians travelled to the country last year, compared to 119,503 arrivals in 2014. Its tourism board said that Turkey's tourism revenue reached an all-time high of $61.1 billion in 2024, an 8.3 per cent increase from the year before. Turkey reported an average visitor spend of $972 (Rs 82,922) last year, as per an Economic Times (ET) report. Indians have contributed to Turkey's tourism growth, with the number of visitors rising by 20.7 per cent last year, compared to 2023. This can be attributed to several factors, including better air connectivity between the two nations, growing interest among Indian wedding planners and MICE [meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions] organisers, ET reported, citing the tourism board. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Azerbaijan has also captured the interest of Indian travellers in recent years. While just 4,853 Indians visited Azerbaijan in 2014, the number of tourists spiked to 243,589 in 2024, Livemint reported, citing the Azerbaijan Tourism Board. Around 1.17 lakh Indians had arrived in the country in 2023. Tourists and souvenirs are seen at a traditional market in the Old Town of Baku, Azerbaijan May 30, 2019. File Photo/Reuters India has reportedly emerged as the fourth-largest tourist source for Azerbaijan, after Russia, Turkiye, and Iran. The blend of tradition and modernity makes the country an appealing choice for Indians. According to Travel Predictions 2025, Azerbaijan's cities of Gabala and Baku were among the top 10 International Trending Destinations for Indian travellers this year. How India's boycott will impact Turkey, Azerbaijan As calls for boycotting Turkey and Azerbaijan gain momentum, Indians are likely to avoid travelling to these destinations. WanderOn's CEO Gaur told Moneycontrol that Indians are cancelling their bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan in the wake of these countries' support for Pakistan. 'Over 50 per cent drop in bookings is expected from India to Azerbaijan and Turkey. India is one of the biggest markets after China for the destinations,' he said. The business leader also predicted that the loss to Turkey and Azerbaijan will be bigger than when Indians boycotted the Maldives last year for derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by some ministers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I see a much larger impact as compared to the Maldives. Baku or Azerbaijan is on travellers' minds because of Indian tourists. Last year, they had the highest number of people travelling to Azerbaijan from India. There won't be any new bookings and this is peak season time for them. Turkish Airlines will also see a significant impact because they are already boycotting the airline. We will see a much larger impact on them in the coming days,' Gaur said. Indian politicians have also slammed Turkey for supplying drones to Pakistan. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi rebuked a purported statement by Ankara's tourism department, which urged Indians not to 'postpone or cancel any trips' to Turkey. Sharing the statement, she wrote on X, 'No Türkiye, Indians won't come spending money on tourism in a country that uses the same to arm Pakistan. Look for your tourists elsewhere, our money ain't blood money.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD No Türkiye, Indians won't come spending money on tourism in a country that uses the same to arm Pakistan. Look for your tourists elsewhere, our money ain't blood money. — Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) May 13, 2025 Congress MLA from Himachal Pradesh, Kuldeep Singh Rathore, has called for an immediate ban on Turkish imports. Accusing Turkey of 'diplomatic betrayal', he reminded Ankara of India's assistance during the 2023 earthquake under 'Operation Dost.' 'I strongly demand that India immediately ban the import of apples and other goods from Turkey. Our countrymen must also boycott Turkish products and tourism. We cannot allow any nation to enjoy our goodwill while arming those who threaten our national security,' Rathore reportedly said. Former police chief Prakash Singh argued that India should 'redefine' its ties with Turkey. 'Any agreement on route-sharing between any Indian airlines and Turkish airlines must be terminated,' he wrote on X. India must re-define its relations with Turkey. Any agreement on route-sharing between any Indian airlines and Turkish airlines must be terminated. @PMOIndia, @MoCA_GoI — Prakash Singh (@singh_prakash) May 12, 2025 As per an ANI report, Pune traders have started boycotting apples imported from Turkey. 'We have decided to stop purchasing apples from Turkey and are instead opting for produce from Himachal, Uttarakhand, Iran, and other regions,' Suyog Zende, an apple merchant at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) market in Pune, told the news agency. 'This decision aligns with our patriotic duty and support for the nation.' Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has demanded that the management of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai cancel the contract with the Turkish company handling the ground services. 'Turkey is helping Pakistan. How can we allow their companies to earn here? They are earning here and helping Pakistan. This will not happen,' Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, who led the protest, said, as per Deccan Herald. He said they have also informed the Mumbai Police Commissioner about the issue. 'We have given an ultimatum of 10 days…if nothing happens, we will make a 10,000-plus morcha at the Mumbai airport,' he said. 'We will not allow any Turkish firm to work here…we will identify such companies and ask them to leave.' The Shiv Sena will make sure that no Turkish company bags any contract in Maharashtra, Patel said. With inputs from agencies
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Business Standard
09-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Avoid Turkey, Azerbaijan for backing Pakistan: Travel firms tell Indians
Thousands of Indians are calling for a boycott of travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan as tensions between India and Pakistan continue to escalate. The backlash follows statements from both Turkey and Azerbaijan expressing solidarity with Pakistan after India's recent military action. Nishant Pittie, founder and chairman of EaseMyTrip, said, 'In view of the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025 and war-like situations between India and Pakistan, it is disheartening to note that Turkey and Azerbaijan have extended their support to Pakistan. EaseMyTrip strongly advise limiting travel to these countries unless absolutely essential.' He added, 'The safety of travellers is our top priority. We advise all our customers to exercise utmost caution and stay updated on official travel advisories before planning trips to sensitive regions.' also acted swiftly, suspending all travel planning to Turkey and Azerbaijan. 'In light of recent events, we've made the decision to pause all new bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan. This is not a comment on the people, but a stance against policies that conflict with India's national interest,' said Hari Ganapathy, co-founder of Pickyourtrail. 'As an Indian travel company, our first duty is to the Indian traveller. Jai Hind,' he added. Go Homestays followed by ending its partnership with Turkish Airlines. Impact on travel plans Speaking to Business Standard, Karan Agarwal, director at Cox & Kings, offered a wider view of the disruption. 'In moments like these, when geopolitical tensions are high, travellers need to balance their desire to explore with an understanding of the broader context. It's not just about where you go, but when and how,' said Agarwal. 'Travellers should reconsider non-essential trips to domestic regions like Kashmir, parts of Jammu, Leh, and Amritsar. These areas often experience operational and security disruptions when tensions escalate.' He also explained the international effect on flight routes. 'Routes to Europe, North America, and Central Asia are seeing longer flight durations as airlines reroute around Pakistani airspace. Travellers flying to cities like London, Frankfurt, Toronto, and transit hubs like Dubai should plan for possible delays or changes.' 'There's reason to be cautious with travel to regions with broader instability whether that's parts of the Middle East, Israel, or Afghanistan. It's about timing plans with intelligence and awareness,' said Agarwal. What Turkey and Azerbaijan said The move to boycott came after official statements from both Turkey and Azerbaijan on April 23, 2025. These were issued following India's Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Azerbaijan's foreign ministry said, 'The Republic of Azerbaijan expresses its concern over the further escalation of tension between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. We condemn military attacks against Pakistan that killed and injured civilians. We stand in solidarity with the people of Pakistan and express condolences to the families of the victims.' In Islamabad, Turkey's ambassador to Pakistan met with foreign minister Ishaq Dar. The Pakistani foreign ministry wrote on X that both sides 'discussed regional security concerns in depth' and Turkey had termed India's action as an 'unprovoked violation of Pakistan's sovereignty'. Strong social media reaction The response online was immediate. Social media posts widely circulated statistics from 2024, when 2.4 lakh Indians travelled to Azerbaijan and 3.3 lakh visited Turkey. Many posts called for travellers to instead consider Armenia and Greece. 'Tourism is a choice. So is dignity,' read one popular post. Another user, Anant Ladha, wrote on X, 'Azerbaijan (Baku) and Turkey should now see India's power. We should ban these locations from our holidays.' Alok Jain added, 'No more Baku visits please. In 2024, Azerbaijan witnessed a surge in Indian tourists. Show them the power of Indian tourists now.' The account known as The Skin Doctor said, 'I see no reason why any patriotic Indian should spend their money there. Instead, consider visiting Armenia and Greece.' Goa Villas, a villa rental aggregator, joined the movement. 'Due to Turkey's non-cooperative stance in the current global scenario involving India and Pakistan, we've decided not to offer any accommodation services to Turkish citizens in Goa. We stand firmly with our nation,' the company wrote on X. Atlys, a visa processing firm, and global travel app Skyscanner had earlier reported that Azerbaijan had become a popular option for Indian travellers in summer 2025 before the current events unfolded.
