How much would an Indian travel boycott impact Turkey and Azerbaijan?

Nearly 53,137 Indians visited Turkey between January and March 2025 
| Photo Credit:
SAMPATH KUMAR GP

Just a month ago, Instagram reels beckoned Indians to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Now social media is rife with calls to boycott Baku as well as Turkey. As social media anger mounts against Turkey and Azerbaijan – two countries that supported Pakistan during the recent conflict – it has translated into an unprecedented wave of cancellations of travel bookings by Indians to the two nations. So how much would an Indian tourism boycott impact the two countries?

Quite significantly, going by the numbers. Especially for Azerbaijan. Around 2.43 lakh Indian tourists went to the country in 2024, more than double the 1.17 lakh in 2023. Between January and April 2025, over 80,000 Indian tourists have visited Azerbaijan, making up a substantial 11 per cent of its total tourist intake for the period. This sharp climb, from just 0.53 per cent in 2017, shows how critical Indian tourists are for Azerbaijan.

While Turkey is not as dependent on Indian tourists, accounting for less than a per cent of its total foreign arrivals, the numbers are growing. In 2024, Turkey welcomed 3.3 lakh Indian tourists, up from 2.74 lakh tourists in 2023, recording an increase of 21 per cent. The share of Indian tourists in total tourist arrivals in Turkey has also risen slightly from 0.56 per cent in 2023 to 0.63 per cent in 2024.

Nearly 53,137 Indians visited Turkey between January and March this year. The month-wise share of Indian visitors to Turkey has also increased from 0.69 per cent in January 2025 to 0.90 per cent in March 2025.

Wedding bells

A key factor driving tourism from India to Turkey and Azerbaijan is India’s booming $3-trillion marriage mart, which had been choosing these destinations for wedding celebrations. With tensions escalating, many wedding planners are now redirecting events to countries viewed as more politically neutral or supportive of India.

According to Subhash Goyal, Chairman, Aviation and Tourism, Expert Committee, Indian Chamber of Commerce, tourism associations such as the Indian Association of Tour Operators and the Travel Agents Association of India have confirmed that around 60 per cent of bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan have been cancelled so far, with more likely to follow.

Alongside the tourism boycott, trade with these countries is being impacted too. “The Marble Traders Association cancelled ₹5,500 crore of Turkish imports. Even the Turkish apples have been boycotted. This is not just about tourism, it’s about economic messaging,” says Goyal.

Published on May 15, 2025

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