3.3 lakh Indians visited Turkey in 2024 but now they are turning to Greece, Kazakhstan, Georgia amid boycott calls
Travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan has taken a hit after India’s recent conflict with Pakistan. Many Indian tourists are boycotting both countries due to their support for Pakistan following Operation Sindoor. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Karan Agarwal, director of Cox & Kings, shared that Indian travellers are now exploring alternative destinations with a similar vibe and budget. Indian tourists boycott Turkey, Azerbaijan over Pakistan support, cancellations surge 250%: Report
Impact on tourism
Amid the boycott calls, Indian travel companies have paused bookings or suspended travel packages to Turkey and Azerbaijan. The boycott buzz has also led to Indian businesses and politicians speaking out against Turkey and Azerbaijan. Some have also called for a ban on Turkish products.But over the years, why have Indians shown a growing interest in travelling to Turkey and Azerbaijan? Interestingly, 3.3 lakh Indians visited Turkey in 2024, and 2.4 lakh Indians visited Azerbaijan in the same period, contributing significantly to these countries’ tourism economy.
According to Karan, this was because of several factions: “Turkey and Azerbaijan quickly became preferred choices for Indian travellers in the last few years because of how easy and affordable they were. In 2024 alone, around 2.4 lakh Indians visited Azerbaijan and 3.3 lakh visited Turkey, together contributing over ₹69 billion to their tourism economies.
