More than 15,000 bookings from Uttar Pradesh to Türkiye and Azerbaijan have been cancelled, with full refunds from travel agencies and airlines.
Indians boycott Türkiye and Azerbaijan because of their support for Pakistan following Operation Sindor, a military operation launched by India in response to the Pahargam terrorist attack. More than 15,000 bookings from Uttar Pradesh to Türkiye and Azerbaijan have been cancelled, with full refunds from travel agencies and airlines. Ajay Singh, the national convener of the Indian Tourism Guide Federation and chairman of Varanasi Tourism Organization, said that during the Indian Operation Sindor, there was unprecedented national unity in India, and people from all backgrounds stood in patriotism.
However, during this critical period, Türkiye and Azerbaijan’s support for Pakistani angered the Indian public, prompting travelers to cancel their trips to these countries. Ajay Singh explained that the cancellations mainly affect the outbound tourism industry in Türkiye and Azerbaijan, and now two-thirds of bookings have been cancelled. The boycott is driven by national sentiment, with many Indians expressing anger at Türkiye and Azerbaijan’s stance on the India-Pakistan conflict.
About 15,000 cancellations have been reported in the Purvanchal area, including cities such as Varanasi, Azamgarh, Mau. Leading travel agencies and airlines support boycotts by offering full refunds for canceled trips. Air India has confirmed that it will provide 100% refunds for those canceling trips to these countries and show strong support for national sentiment.
Singh also stressed that while Turkey sends a large number of tourists to India, and about 7,500 tourists arrive in Banaras in 2024, it is still worth noting that the decline in bookings in Turkey after the upcoming tourist season from October to March. Türkiye and Azerbaijan will feel the impact of cancellation more eagerly, as tourism contributes significantly to their economies, accounting for about 10% of their GDP. India’s decision to boycott destinations is now testing the two countries’ dependence on tourism.
MakemyTrip reported bookings in Türkiye and Azerbaijan fell 60%, and cancellations soared by 250%.
Sandeep Patiyal, vice president of a major private hotel, said in Varanasi that despite the reduction in bookings in Turkey and Azerbaijan, the city’s tourism industry is unlikely to suffer as it continues to attract European and international tourists, especially those attracting Buddhist heritage. He added that his hotel no longer accepts bookings from guests traveling from both countries and is united with the cause of the country.
Varanasi resident Wajid Khan plans to travel to Baku, Azerbaijan, but cancels his plan and shares his personal reasons. He said: “My country is the first.
Khan said that although Baku is a dream destination, his loyalty to India outweighs the desire to travel, and he encouraged others to support inbound tourism in India. As tensions between India and Pakistan continue, Pakistan’s attempts to infiltrate in various places further aroused India’s anger in an attempt to infiltrate in Pakistan.
On the evening of May 8, Pakistan attempted a drone invasion from Leh to Sir Creek at 36 locations, with about 300 to 400 drones. The Indian armed forces used dynamic and non-dynamic means to reduce many such drones. The possible purpose of these large-scale air intrusions is to test AD systems and collect intelligence. Although forensic examinations of drone debris are underway, preliminary reports indicate it is Türkiye’s “Asisguard Songar”.
(Türkiye-made drone Baykar)
This situation has shown how profound national sentiment and tourism are. India called for boycotts to reverberate throughout the industry after the Sindor action and prompted mass cancellations. Indian armed forces launched a strike against nine terrorist hiding places deep in Pakistan under Operation Sindor and occupied Jamu and Kashmir (POJK) on the morning of May 7 in response to the Pahargam terrorist attack. In a speech to the United States on May 12, Prime Minister Modi said that after the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 air strikes, Operation Sindor is now India’s policy to terrorism.
Easemytrip and Makemytrip urged Indians to boycott travel to Türkiye and Azerbaijan. Earlier, despite Turkey and Azerbaijan’s public support for Pakistan, despite the Pahargam terrorist attacks and Islamabad’s aggression against India, Nishant Pitti, founder and chairman of Ismitrip, urged people not to use travel to empower those who do not stand with us, noting that “travel is a powerful tool”.
Nishant Pitti supports his data appeal, asking countries that openly support Pakistan’s “we should cheer for tourism and the economy. In an article on X, Nishant Pitti said in an article on X that 287,000 Indians visited Turkey last year and 243,000 visited Azerbaijan, noting that tourism has driven the economies of both countries. He said every rupee spent abroad is a vote and Indians should spend it where “our values are respected”.
He added: “When these countries openly support Pakistan, should we cheer on their tourism industry and their economy? Every rupee we spend abroad is a vote. Let’s spend it in respect of values.
Despite the attacks on nine terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan are still behind Pakistan despite supporting India’s cross-border terrorism and aggressiveness towards India.
Azerbaijan echoed the Pakistani line in a statement on India-Pakistan tensions. Türkiye expressed solidarity with Pakistan and supported Islamabad’s proposal to conduct an international investigation into the Pahargan terrorist attack. Türkiye also provided military weapons to Pakistan.
(This story has not been edited by DNA staff and published from ANI except for the title.)
