Travel Bookings To Türkiye And Azerbaijan Drop By 60% Amid India-Pakistan Conflict (image-pixabay)
New Delhi: Amidst the turmoil surrounding the India-Pakistan conflict, many Indians have cancelled their travel plans to countries like Turkiye and Azerbaijan. Both the countries, being among the most attractive tourist destinations in the world, had been popular among Indian tourists. The recent data from the travel and hospitality industry has revealed that there has been a sharp decline in both new bookings and interest in these two countries.
MakeMyTrip reported that bookings have decreased by 60%, while cancellations of already booked trips have surged by 25% in just one week. This sudden surge is in response to Turkiye’s and Azerbaijan’s backing of Pakistan. Indian citizens calling out for a boycott have also gained traction. When major Indian travel agencies like EaseMyTrip and Cox & Kings reported a substantial drop, some of them even cancelled travel packages altogether, claiming to align with national sentiment.
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“In solidarity with our nation and out of deep respect for our armed forces, we strongly support this sentiment and advise against all non-essential travel to Azerbaijan and Türkiye,” MakeMyTrip said in an official statement.
Similarly, EaseMyTrip too has publicly advised Indian travellers to opt for alternative destinations such as Greece and Armenia, while calling for a boycott of Türkiye and Azerbaijan. The company has also gone all in with a full-page ad in The Economic Times, titled “Bharat ka Travel App”.
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In the name of nationalism, Co-founder Nishant Pitti also posted on X, urging fellow citizens to think twice about spending money in countries backing Pakistan. “When these nations openly support Pakistan, should we fuel their tourism and their economies? Every rupee we spend abroad is a vote. Let’s spend it where our values are respected. Jai Hind,” he wrote.
