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🇮🇳 Indian Tourists Boycott Turkey & Azerbaijan Over Pro-Pakistan Stand After Pahalgam Attack
Just a month ago, if you asked any travel expert for top international destinations, Azerbaijan and Turkey would have undoubtedly made the list. Azerbaijan offered affordability, while Turkey promised a luxurious cultural escape. But after the Pahalgam terror attack and rising India-Pakistan tensions, both countries publicly aligned with Pakistan—a move that sparked mass outrage across India.
The response? A powerful boycott movement led by Indian travelers—one of the largest consumer bases for both nations’ tourism industries.
🚫 Harsh Goenka’s Call Fuels #BoycottTurkey and #BoycottAzerbaijan
Indians gave Rs 4,000+cr to Turkey & Azerbaijan last year through tourism. Created jobs. Boosted their economy, hotels, weddings, flights.
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) May 13, 2025
Today, both stand with Pakistan after Pahalgam attack.
Plenty of beautiful places in India & the world.
Please skip these 2 places.
Jai…
The movement gained momentum after RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“Plenty of beautiful places in India & the world. Please skip these 2 places. Jai Hind. Today, both stand with Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack.”
Following this, the hashtags #BoycottTurkey and #BoycottAzerbaijan began trending, amplifying patriotic sentiment across social media.
#WATCH | Delhi: On call to boycott travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan, Farhan, Director Sales, DMC Wale- a travel agency, says, "In the Indian market, this was the season for visiting Turkey. We had very good bookings for Turkey. For the months of May, June and July, we had more… pic.twitter.com/8jM9MwrM9j
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2025
📉 Travel Giants Respond with Mass Cancellations
Several major Indian travel companies reacted swiftly:
- MakeMyTrip reported a 60% drop in bookings, with cancellations spiking by 250%. All promotions for Turkey and Azerbaijan were halted.
- EaseMyTrip saw 22% cancellations to Turkey and 30% to Azerbaijan, suspending all hotel and flight bookings to both destinations.
- Ixigo cut off all travel services to Turkey, Azerbaijan, and China.
- DMC Wale, a domestic agency, stated that 80% of Turkey bookings for May to July were cancelled. “We won’t promote countries that don’t stand with India,” said Director Farhan.
💰 Massive Financial Losses for Both Countries
➤ Indian Tourist Spending in 2024:
- Azerbaijan welcomed 2.43 lakh Indian tourists, each spending an average of ₹1.1 lakh per trip. Total: ₹26.8 billion.
- Turkey hosted 3.3 lakh Indian visitors, with average spending of ₹1.3 lakh each. Total: ₹42.9 billion.
These figures exclude flight expenses, which further increase total spend per tourist.
🧾 Cost Breakdown: What Indians Typically Spent
🏨 Azerbaijan (Budget Travel)
- Stay: ₹8,000–₹40,000/night
- Food: ₹500–₹3,000/day
- Sightseeing & Local Travel: ₹800–₹2,500/day
- Visa: ₹3,200 (regular), ₹6,700 (express)
- Total per couple (4 days, excl. flights): ₹2,00,000+
🏝 Turkey (Luxury Travel)
- Stay: ₹8,000–₹25,000/night
- Food: ₹900–₹2,100/day
- Sightseeing & Local Travel: ₹1,000–₹2,500/day
- Visa: ₹17,700 (single entry)
- Total per couple (7 days, excl. flights): ₹4,00,000+
🎥 Why Turkey & Azerbaijan Were Popular
- Viral Instagram Reels & vlogs
- Bollywood movie shoots (like Ek Tha Tiger)
- Direct flights from major metros
- Quick e-visa processes
- Favored for destination weddings & MICE events
But these nations’ support for Pakistan has prompted a nationwide rejection by Indian travelers, and the trend is rapidly reversing.
