Travel firms have urged Indian tourists to avoid visiting Turkey and Azerbaijan amid rising military tensions between India and Pakistan, following the two nations’ vocal support for Islamabad in the ongoing conflict.
The calls for a travel boycott come in the wake of Turkey and Azerbaijan expressing solidarity with Pakistan after India’s recent military strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under ‘Operation Sindoor’. This operation, conducted on 7 May, targeted nine key locations in retaliation for the 22 April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 civilian lives.
Nishant Pittie, founder and chairman of EaseMyTrip, said, “In view of the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, and war-like situations between India and Pakistan, it is disheartening to note that Turkey and Azerbaijan have extended their support to Pakistan. EaseMyTrip strongly advise limiting travel to these countries unless absolutely essential.”
He added, “The safety of travellers is our top priority. We advise all our customers to exercise utmost caution and stay updated on official travel advisories before planning trips to sensitive regions.”
Pickyourtrail.com has also suspended all travel planning to Turkey and Azerbaijan. Co-founder Hari Ganapathy stated, “In light of recent events, we’ve made the decision to pause all new bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan. This is not a comment on the people, but a stance against policies that conflict with India’s national interest.”
Go Homestays has also joined the movement, terminating its partnership with Turkish Airlines. “As an Indian travel company, our first duty is to the Indian traveller. Jai Hind,” the company stated.
Industry leaders have also noted the impact on broader travel plans. Karan Agarwal, director at Cox & Kings, said, “In moments like these, when geopolitical tensions are high, travellers need to balance their desire to explore with an understanding of the broader context. It’s not just about where you go, but when and how.”
He added that travellers should reconsider non-essential trips to domestic regions like Kashmir, Jammu, Leh, and Amritsar, which often experience security disruptions during heightened tensions.
“Routes to Europe, North America, and Central Asia are seeing longer flight durations as airlines reroute around Pakistani airspace. Travellers flying to cities like London, Frankfurt, Toronto, and transit hubs like Dubai should plan for possible delays or changes,” Agarwal noted.
The backlash against Turkey and Azerbaijan follows their official statements issued on 23 April. Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry stated, “The Republic of Azerbaijan expresses its concern over the further escalation of tension between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. We condemn military attacks against Pakistan that killed and injured civilians. We stand in solidarity with the people of Pakistan and express condolences to the families of the victims.”
Meanwhile, Turkey’s ambassador to Pakistan met with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, where both sides discussed regional security concerns. Pakistan’s foreign ministry wrote on X that Turkey had termed India’s actions as an “unprovoked violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.”
The reaction on social media was swift, with users urging fellow Indians to boycott travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan. Many posts highlighted travel statistics from 2024, when 240,000 Indians visited Azerbaijan and 330,000 travelled to Turkey, urging a shift towards destinations like Armenia and Greece.
“Tourism is a choice. So is dignity,” read one widely shared post. Another user, Anant Ladha, wrote, “Azerbaijan (Baku) and Turkey should now see India’s power. We should ban these locations from our holidays.”
Alok Jain added, “No more Baku visits please. In 2024, Azerbaijan witnessed a surge in Indian tourists. Show them the power of Indian tourists now.”
Goa Villas, a villa rental aggregator, joined the movement, stating, “Due to Turkey’s non-cooperative stance in the current global scenario involving India and Pakistan, we’ve decided not to offer any accommodation services to Turkish citizens in Goa. We stand firmly with our nation.
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