Indians boycotting travel to Turkey & Azerbaijan: Turkey and Azerbaijan had pledged support to Pakistan amid its conflict with India, leading to calls for boycotting the countries.Indians have cancelled travel plans for Turkey and Azerbaijan in massive numbers, according to online booking platform EaseMyTrip‘s co-founder Prashant Pitti,
Several traders have also boycotted goods coming from Turkey and Azerbaijan. Turkey and Azerbaijan had issued statements after Operation Sindoor in support of Pakistan. Further, Turkish drones were also reportedly used by Pakistan’s army to target India’s military bases and civilian areas.
EaseMyTrip’s co-founder recently highlighted the growing economic influence of Indian tourists abroad, particularly in Turkey, through a post on X. “Over 2.87 lakh Indian tourists visited Turkey last year (2023), up from 2.3 lakh in 2022 — a growth of over 25% year-on-year,” he noted, emphasizing the rapid increase in outbound travel. He further estimated that each Indian tourist spent between $1,200 and $1,500, amounting to a total spend of approximately $350–400 million USD (₹3,000 crore+). The co-founder underscored how significant this is for Turkey, where tourism contributes around 12% of GDP and employs 10% of the workforce. “A large chunk of international tourists come from countries like Russia, Germany, UK, and increasingly India,” he wrote, calling India one of Turkey’s fastest-growing source markets.
What makes this data particularly important, according to him, is the strategic implication of where Indians choose to travel. “Indian tourists have high spending power, making them key contributors to foreign economies,” he said, arguing that by consciously redirecting tourism flows, India can reduce economic support to countries taking anti-India positions. This, he suggested, could also benefit India’s domestic tourism industry or favor nations aligned with Indian interests. With over 25 million Indians traveling abroad every year and the outbound tourism market projected to reach $44 billion by 2032, he posited that even a 10% shift in destination choices “can shift thousands of crores in annual tourism spend,” turning tourism decisions into powerful economic and diplomatic tools.
EaseMyTrip’s co-founder posted on X
•Over 2.87 lakh Indian tourists visited Turkey last year (2023)
•This is up from 2.3 lakh in 2022 — a growth of over 25% YoY
•Estimated spend per Indian tourist in Turkey: $1,200–1,500
•Total estimated Indian tourist spend in Turkey (2023): $350–400 million USD (~₹3,000 crore+)
Turkey’s Dependence on Tourism:
•Tourism contributes ~12% of Turkey’s GDP
•It accounts for 10% of total employment in the country
•A large chunk of international tourists come from countries like Russia, Germany, UK, and increasingly India
•India is one of Turkey’s fastest-growing source markets
Why This Matters:
•Indian tourists have high spending power, making them key contributors to foreign economies
•By consciously redirecting tourism flow, we reduce economic support to countries taking anti-India positions
•India’s own tourism industry can benefit by retaining this spend within the country or redirecting it to nations aligned with Indian interests
Indian Tourism Industry Snapshot:
•Over 25 million Indians travel abroad every year
•The outbound tourism market is expected to reach $44 billion by 2032
•If even 10% of Indian tourists reconsider destinations based on national interest, it can shift thousands of crores in annual tourism spend
Billionaire Harsh Goenka has asked the Indian citizens to boycott traveling to Turkey and Azerbaijan as both the countries extended open support to Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. In a post shared on social media platform X, the industrialist emphasised that Indian tourists contributed over Rs 4,000 crore to the economies of the two nations in 2024. Harsh Goenka said that it’s time for Indian travellers to show their might and not support the economies of the countries that support our enemies.
“Indians gave Rs 4,000+cr to Turkey & Azerbaijan last year through tourism. Created jobs. Boosted their economy, hotels, weddings, flights. Today, both stand with Pakistan after Pahalgam attack. Plenty of beautiful places in India & the world. Please skip these 2 places. Jai Hind,” wrote Harsh Goenka in an X post.
Travel industry response
The Indian travel industry has collectively joined the call to boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan following their support for Pakistan amid the recent Pahalgam terror attack. This stance is echoed by major travel firms, industry associations, and public figures. Leading online travel agencies such as Ixigo, EaseMyTrip, and Cox & Kings have suspended all travel bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan. Ixigo announced the suspension of flight and hotel bookings to these countries, citing national sentiments and aligning with the broader initiative termed “Operation Sindoor” . Similarly, EaseMyTrip has issued significant travel advisories, and Cox & Kings has temporarily halted new travel packages to these nations.
Also Read: Google unveils new gradient ‘G’ logo in first update in a decade
Why India mandates two helmets per bike purchase – Key reasons
CBSE Class 10 Board Exams 2026: Two chances to ace your results
Passengers to pay more as Indian Railways hikes fares from July 1