'Nation First': Indian Travellers Alter Plans from Turkey and Azerbaijan
A strong sentiment of "nation first" is currently influencing the travel decisions of many Indians. This has led to a significant number of cancellations for trips planned to Turkey and Azerbaijan. The primary reason appears to be the perceived unfavourable positions of these two countries regarding India, especially during recent border tensions with Pakistan. Industry estimates suggest that over 2,000 booking cancellation requests have been made for travel scheduled between May and July 2025.
Travel platforms across India are observing a clear trend: fewer new bookings, a rise in cancellations, and a growing negative feeling towards Turkey and Azerbaijan as holiday destinations. Consequently, many Indian tourists are now looking for alternative places to visit. An unnamed senior airline official confirmed that they received approximately 2,000 requests for cancellations and rescheduling for Istanbul and Baku in the past week alone for travel in the coming three months. While these cancellations represent less than 5 percent of the total passenger traffic to these nations, the sudden surge is significant. It's worth noting that Baku, Azerbaijan, is concurrently hosting the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Aviation Energy Forum, with an IATA executive highlighting Azerbaijan's growing importance as a transport and tourism hub in Eurasia.
Major travel companies have reported substantial changes in booking patterns. Sabina Chopra, COO and Co-Founder of Yatra, noted a significant shift since May 7th, with over half of their holiday package bookings to these destinations being cancelled. Cleartrip reported a striking 260 percent increase in cancellations over the past week. The platform also issued a statement urging travellers to postpone non-essential travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan. MakeMyTrip, India’s largest travel booking platform, stated on May 14th that bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey had fallen by 60 percent, while cancellations had risen by 250 percent in the same period. While MakeMyTrip continues to offer flights, it has stopped all promotions for these destinations, advising against non-essential travel.
Rikant Pittie, CEO and Co-Founder of EaseMyTrip, mentioned that while some inquiries are still coming in, overall interest has considerably dropped. His platform has seen 22 percent cancellations for Turkey and 30 percent for Azerbaijan. He added that many travellers are choosing to delay or reschedule their trips, reflecting a growing caution among Indian tourists due to the geopolitical climate. Govind Gaur, CEO of WanderOn, a travel technology firm, observed that current inquiries for Turkey are almost non-existent for the immediate future, with most existing bookings being cancelled or rescheduled. Travellers are now more cautious, seeking clarity on ground conditions, visa statuses, and travel insurance.
This boycott is not just a social media phenomenon; it is visibly affecting booking numbers, which is expected to be a blow to the tourism sectors of both Turkey and Azerbaijan. The Karnataka State Travel Operators Association, along with key travel entrepreneurs, has also supported the boycott. Hari Ganapathy, Co-Founder of Pickyourtrail, which had already suspended bookings, mentioned that his company is suggesting safer alternative destinations to those still inquiring about Turkey and Azerbaijan.
India has been a significant growth market for tourism in both Turkey and Azerbaijan. In 2024, over 270,000 Indian tourists visited Turkey, and Azerbaijan welcomed approximately 243,000 Indian tourists. Indian travellers are known for their considerable spending, with trips often involving high-value segments like destination weddings and luxury holidays. Experts like Pittie and Gaur believe this decline will have a noticeable short-term financial impact on these countries, particularly affecting hotels, airlines, and local businesses that cater to Indian tourists.
As Turkey and Azerbaijan lose favour, Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia are becoming preferred choices. These destinations are seen as affordable, easy to travel to, and offer diverse experiences. Georgia is also gaining traction. This shift clearly indicates that geopolitical considerations are now playing a crucial role in the holiday planning of many Indian citizens.
