New Delhi (National Times): The ongoing diplomatic fallout from the India-Pakistan conflict has spilled into the tourism industry, with Indian travelers cancelling trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan en masse after both nations expressed support for Islamabad.
Top Indian travel companies are witnessing a wave of cancellations and reduced interest in these popular holiday destinations.
“Since last week, there has been a 60% drop in new bookings and a 250% increase in trip cancellations for Turkey and Azerbaijan,” confirmed a spokesperson from MakeMyTrip.
EaseMyTrip, another major travel player, reported that Turkey has seen a 22% rise in cancellations, while Azerbaijan’s figure stands at 30%. According to CEO Rikant Pittie, Indian travelers are now opting for more neutral or pro-India alternatives like Thailand, Vietnam, Serbia, Greece, and Georgia.
The backlash follows public statements by Turkey and Azerbaijan backing Pakistan’s position after India’s strikes on alleged terror camps in response to a deadly Kashmir attack.
In a strong statement on social media, EaseMyTrip Chairman Nishant Pitti questioned the logic of funding tourism in countries that oppose India’s stance: “When these nations openly support Pakistan, should we fuel their tourism and their economies?”
Adding to the reaction, travel aggregator ixigo has suspended all flight and hotel bookings to Turkey, Azerbaijan, and China, citing customer sentiment and national interest.
Tourism analysts believe this could result in a multi-million dollar revenue loss for affected countries, as India remains one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets.
As diplomatic tensions simmer, the trend reflects how consumer choices are increasingly influenced by global geopolitics and nationalist sentiment.
