<p>Mumbai: The growing campaign to boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan by Indian tourists for its support to Pakistan during the Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack is changing the tourism pattern among Indians, both domestic and international. </p><p>Turkey, positioned between Asia and Europe, boasts a fusion of cultures from both continents, and has been a popular tourism destination among Indians. Azerbaijan, a landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe, had been attracting middle-class Indians, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic. </p><p>The call to boycott Turkey (Türkiye) and Azerbaijan has gained huge momentum with celebrities and commoners asking for it. </p><p>Businessman and RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka slammed the two countries for their support to Pakistan. “Indians gave Rs 4,000+ crore to Turkey and Azerbaijan last year through tourism. Created jobs. Boosted their economy, hotels, weddings, flights. Today, both stand with Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack. Plenty of beautiful places in India and the world. Please skip these 2 places. Jai Hind.” </p><p>Mumbai-based Kiran Bhoir, the founder-Director of KMC Holidays and Offshore Pvt Ltd, said that people are no longer keen in Turkey and Azerbaijan. </p><p>“Destinations of Turkey like Istanbul, Cappacodia, Ankara, Pamukkale, Ephesus were extremely popular, and so were Baku, Gobustan National Park, Sheki, and Quba in Azerbaijan. However, after the recent developments between India and Pakistan and the stance of Turkey and Azerbaijan, both enquiries and bookings have come down. There are other destinations where people are keen to go,” Bhoir told DH on Thursday. </p><p>On the domestic front, he said, after the terrorist attack on tourists in the meadows of Pahalgam, tourism has suffered a big blow. “The current trend among Indian tourists is now to head South…there have been a lot of bookings on the Bengaluru-Mysuru-Ooty sector and other destinations like Kodaikanal,” Bhoir said. “There are a lot of inquiries for Sikkim and Darjeeling, however, the flights are too costly,” he added. </p>.Film industry calls for boycott on Turkey amid India-Pakistan tensions.<p>According to a section of travel and tour operators, instead of Azerbaijan, there have been inquiries for Dubai and Abu Dhabi. “Besides, the South East Asian destinations like Thailand, Cambodia, Bali, and Vietnam remain popular among the Indians,” they said. </p><p>On the Turkey and Azerbaijan front, a MakeMyTrip spokesperson said: “Indian travellers have expressed strong sentiments over the past one week, with bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey decreasing by 60%, while cancellations have surged by 250% during the same period. In solidarity with our nation and out of deep respect for our armed forces, we strongly support this sentiment and advise all against all non-essential travel to Azerbaijan and Turkey. We have already discontinued all promotions and offers on our platform to discourage tourism to these two destinations”.</p><p>EaseMyTrip Founder & Chairman Nishant Pitti, in a post on X, said: “Travel is a powerful tool. Let’s not use it to empower those who don’t stand with us. Last year, 2,87,000 Indians visited Turkey and 2,43,000 visited Azerbaijan. Tourism drives their economies - Turkey: 12% of GDP and 10% of jobs and Azerbaijan: 7.6% of GDP and 10% of jobs When these nations openly support Pakistan, should we fuel their tourism and their economies?Every rupee we spend abroad is a vote. Let’s spend it where our values are respected.”</p><p>EaseMyTrip co-founder Prashant Pitti has asked Indian travellers to explore other countries like Greece and Armenia, calling for a complete boycott of Turkey and Azerbaijan.</p><p>Many Indian domestic travellers are also making inquiries for North-East destinations. </p>
<p>Mumbai: The growing campaign to boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan by Indian tourists for its support to Pakistan during the Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack is changing the tourism pattern among Indians, both domestic and international. </p><p>Turkey, positioned between Asia and Europe, boasts a fusion of cultures from both continents, and has been a popular tourism destination among Indians. Azerbaijan, a landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe, had been attracting middle-class Indians, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic. </p><p>The call to boycott Turkey (Türkiye) and Azerbaijan has gained huge momentum with celebrities and commoners asking for it. </p><p>Businessman and RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka slammed the two countries for their support to Pakistan. “Indians gave Rs 4,000+ crore to Turkey and Azerbaijan last year through tourism. Created jobs. Boosted their economy, hotels, weddings, flights. Today, both stand with Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack. Plenty of beautiful places in India and the world. Please skip these 2 places. Jai Hind.” </p><p>Mumbai-based Kiran Bhoir, the founder-Director of KMC Holidays and Offshore Pvt Ltd, said that people are no longer keen in Turkey and Azerbaijan. </p><p>“Destinations of Turkey like Istanbul, Cappacodia, Ankara, Pamukkale, Ephesus were extremely popular, and so were Baku, Gobustan National Park, Sheki, and Quba in Azerbaijan. However, after the recent developments between India and Pakistan and the stance of Turkey and Azerbaijan, both enquiries and bookings have come down. There are other destinations where people are keen to go,” Bhoir told DH on Thursday. </p><p>On the domestic front, he said, after the terrorist attack on tourists in the meadows of Pahalgam, tourism has suffered a big blow. “The current trend among Indian tourists is now to head South…there have been a lot of bookings on the Bengaluru-Mysuru-Ooty sector and other destinations like Kodaikanal,” Bhoir said. “There are a lot of inquiries for Sikkim and Darjeeling, however, the flights are too costly,” he added. </p>.Film industry calls for boycott on Turkey amid India-Pakistan tensions.<p>According to a section of travel and tour operators, instead of Azerbaijan, there have been inquiries for Dubai and Abu Dhabi. “Besides, the South East Asian destinations like Thailand, Cambodia, Bali, and Vietnam remain popular among the Indians,” they said. </p><p>On the Turkey and Azerbaijan front, a MakeMyTrip spokesperson said: “Indian travellers have expressed strong sentiments over the past one week, with bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey decreasing by 60%, while cancellations have surged by 250% during the same period. In solidarity with our nation and out of deep respect for our armed forces, we strongly support this sentiment and advise all against all non-essential travel to Azerbaijan and Turkey. We have already discontinued all promotions and offers on our platform to discourage tourism to these two destinations”.</p><p>EaseMyTrip Founder & Chairman Nishant Pitti, in a post on X, said: “Travel is a powerful tool. Let’s not use it to empower those who don’t stand with us. Last year, 2,87,000 Indians visited Turkey and 2,43,000 visited Azerbaijan. Tourism drives their economies - Turkey: 12% of GDP and 10% of jobs and Azerbaijan: 7.6% of GDP and 10% of jobs When these nations openly support Pakistan, should we fuel their tourism and their economies?Every rupee we spend abroad is a vote. Let’s spend it where our values are respected.”</p><p>EaseMyTrip co-founder Prashant Pitti has asked Indian travellers to explore other countries like Greece and Armenia, calling for a complete boycott of Turkey and Azerbaijan.</p><p>Many Indian domestic travellers are also making inquiries for North-East destinations. </p>