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NEW DELHI: Indian interest in Türkiye and Azerbaijan is rapidly losing altitude after both nations openly supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. The backlash is most visible in tourism, with widespread cancellations and a halt in new bookings.Türkiye’s military support to Pakistan, including drone supplies used during recent attacks on Indian border regions, has sparked a wave of anger. Indian travel agencies and platforms are now grounding promotions and advising customers to avoid both destinations.“Enough is enough! Blood and bookings won’t flow together,” wrote ixigo co-founder Aloke Bajpai on X, announcing a suspension of all flights and hotel reservations to Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and China.Other platforms, including India’s largest online travel agency MakeMyTrip, have stopped short of bans but issued strong advisories discouraging non-essential travel.3.3 lakh Indian tourists visited Turkiye in 2024, spent an estimated $350-400mBookings for Turkiye and Azerbaijan have dropped 60%, and cancellations jumped by 250% in just one week,” a MakeMyTrip spokesperson said Wednesday.Travel agents across major metros reported that public outrage is translating into decisive action. “There’s a growing perception that Indian money spent on tourism could be fuelling hostile actions against us,” said a Mumbai-based agent.RPG Group chairperson Harsh Goenka weighed in online. “Indians gave over Rs 4,000 crore last year to Turkiye and Azerbaijan through tourism… Today, both stand with Pakistan after Pahalgam. Plenty of beautiful places in India and the world. Please skip these two places.”Indian outbound travel to both countries had surged before tensions escalated. Turkiye saw nearly 3.3 lakh Indian tourists in 2024, a 21% jump from the previous year. Azerbaijan welcomed 2.4 lakh Indians — more than double its 2023 figure. Direct connectivity by airlines like IndiGo played a role in boosting interest.But fallout has been swift. EaseMyTrip estimates Indian tourists spent $350-400 million in Turkiye last year alone, with average spending per person ranging between $1,200-1,500. That flow has slowed dramatically.Travel industry groups like Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and Travel Agents’ Federation of India (TAFI) have stopped promoting both destinations. Refunds are being processed, with select airlines cooperating, said TAAI’s south region chairperson Devaki Thyagarajan.Digital visa platform Atlys confirmed a steep drop in Azerbaijan-bound applications, despite the country’s growing popularity as a budget-friendly alternative to Europe. “People wanted something new beyond Singapore or Thailand. Azerbaijan offered a European feel at a fraction of the price,” said Sejoe Jose of Indian Association of Tour Operators. “That interest has disappeared.”Kolkata has seen Turkiye-bound travellers fall from 200 a day to under 50. Azerbaijan’s daily footfall has dropped to single digits, said TAAI east chairman Anjani Dhanuka. MakeMyTrip and EaseMyTrip data show a 30% spike in Azerbaijan cancellations and a 22% increase for Turkiye.Agents now suggest similarly priced destinations. For couples who once chose Turkiye, where a weeklong trip cost Rs 3-4 lakh, alternatives include Russia, Hungary, Czech Republic or Germany. Azerbaijan’s budget travellers are being redirected to Vietnam, Singapore, Bali or Dubai.(Inputs from Tamaghna Banerjee & Subhro Niyogi in Kolkata; & Ayyappan V in Thiruvananthapuram)
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