A million-dollar hit? India’s travel boycott rocks Turkey, Azerbaijan tourism industry – Brand Wagon News

Indian tourists are swiftly turning away from Turkey and Azerbaijan as preferred international destinations, following reports of the two countries’ alignment with Pakistan amid the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict. The timing of the escalation could not be worse for the travel and tourism sectors of Turkey and Azerbaijan. 

In 2024 alone, Turkey saw 274,000 Indian tourists—up 20.7% from the previous year, owing to enhanced air connectivity, destination marketing, and popularity for Indian weddings and MICE events, Govind Gaur, CEO WanderOn, told financialexpress.com. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, welcomed 243,589 Indian visitors, making India its third-largest source of tourists. On average, Indian tourists in Azerbaijan spent 2,170 AZN (approx. $1,280) per visit, with the majority of expenditures going to transport (54%), accommodation (19%), and food (16%), Gaur added.

But since early May, that upward trend has been disrupted. Travel agencies and booking platforms have recorded an unprecedented wave of cancellations. “Recent geopolitical tensions are substantially affecting travel patterns. Cancellation rates have reached 22% for Turkey and 30% for Azerbaijan, with travellers increasingly choosing destinations like Georgia, Serbia, Greece, Thailand, and Vietnam,” Rikant Pittie, CEO and Co-Founder of EaseMyTrip, noted.

Travel platforms are taking strong stances in response. A spokesperson from MakeMyTrip confirmed the drop, stating, “Over the past week, bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey decreased by 60%, while cancellations surged by 250% during the same period. We have already discontinued all promotions and offers on our platform to discourage tourism to these two destinations.”

Industry bodies have also moved to formalise the boycott. The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) announced on May 9 that they would no longer promote or sell packages to Turkey and Azerbaijan. As per a report, daily travellers from Kolkata to Turkey dropped from around 200 to 40–50, and from 45–50 to just 5–6 for Azerbaijan.

The financial implications are considerable. Travel agents report that a 6–7-day holiday to Turkey costs around Rs 3–4 lakh per couple, while a 4-day trip to Azerbaijan is approximately Rs 2 lakh. With such packages being scrapped at scale, both countries face the loss of millions in revenue from Indian outbound tourism. “Since May 7, more than 50% of holiday package bookings to these destinations have been cancelled, while many customers are opting to reschedule or switch to alternative locations,” Sabina Chopra, COO & Co-Founder of Yatra Online Ltd, said. “Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia have emerged as the preferred choices due to their affordability, ease of travel, and diverse experiences. Additionally, Georgia is gaining traction among Indian tourists, with cities like Tbilisi and regions like Stepantsminda drawing interest for their scenic landscapes, rich culture, and simplified visa processes,” Chopra added.

Domestic travel has also taken a hit. According to internal data from WanderOn, India has seen a 60% drop in domestic travel and a 40% drop in international travel due to the Indo-Pak conflict. In response, platforms like WanderOn are working to protect traveller interests by offering full refunds, destination switches, or two-year validity on trip credits.

There’s also a noticeable shift in destination preference, with Indian travellers now looking eastward or within the southern parts of the country. Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are gaining momentum as alternative itineraries for summer holidays, offering both safety and affordability. Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore, is seeing a surge in interest thanks to lower costs, better connectivity, and friendly visa policies.

As of now, the long-term effects of this diplomatic fallout remain to be seen. But if the current sentiment holds, Turkey and Azerbaijan may lose their standing as popular international destinations among Indian tourists, at least for the foreseeable future.

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