Two of the most popular destinations for Indian travellers—Turkey and Azerbaijan—are facing the heat of a growing social media backlash. The hashtag #BoycottTurkeyAzerbaijan has gone viral, and Indian tourists are responding not just with tweets, but with action: mass cancellations.
Cancellations Surge Post-Statements
Travel agencies across India report a sharp spike in booking cancellations to both countries. EaseMyTrip confirmed that around 22% of bookings to Turkey have been dropped, while over 30% of those to Azerbaijan are now off the table. The Indian Association of Tour Operators also acknowledged the trend. Leading platforms like ixigo have gone one step further, halting all fresh bookings. Alok Bajpai, co-founder of ixigo, declared, “Enough is enough! Blood and bookings won’t flow together.”
Why the Boycott?
The backlash comes in response to statements made by Turkey and Azerbaijan in support of Pakistan following India’s Operation Sindoor — a military response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Indian strikes, urging restraint. Azerbaijan’s Ministry echoed similar sentiments, standing in solidarity with Pakistan. For Indian travellers, this was a red line.
The Economic Impact
In 2024, over 3 lakh Indians visited Turkey, spending a substantial ₹4,000 crore across both Turkey and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan alone saw nearly 2.5 lakh Indian tourists — nearly double the number from 2023. If the boycott persists into 2025, experts estimate tourism revenue losses of ₹2,000 to ₹2,500 crore for both countries.
Read more: How Bollywood Has Reshaped the Global Perception of Delhi One Film at a Time, Influencing Tourism in the City
Tourism as Protest
This isn’t the first instance of India’s "people power" reshaping international travel patterns. Just a few months ago, Indian travellers halted trips to the Maldives amid political tensions, forcing a recalibration in the country’s tourism strategy. Tourism might be a soft power tool — but in the age of digital outrage, it can send a very loud message.
