Published on
October 19, 2025
Indian travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan has plummeted by seventy percent in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory counterterror operation launched by India in May 2025. The decline in tourism is largely due to the diplomatic fallout from these countries’ support of Pakistan during the conflict, with both nations aligning politically with Pakistan, which stirred anger among Indian travellers. As a result, many Indian tourists have chosen to boycott these destinations as a form of protest, leading to a sharp drop in visits during the peak travel months from June to August 2025.
Indian Travel Boycott Hits Turkey and Azerbaijan Post-Operation Sindoor
Indian travellers appear to be continuing their informal “soft sanction” against Turkey and Azerbaijan, with significant drops in tourism to both countries following the diplomatic fallout from Operation Sindoor. Between June and August 2025, Indian arrivals to Azerbaijan plunged by 70%, while visits to Turkey fell by 38%, according to data from CNN-News18.
Operation Sindoor and Diplomatic Fallout
Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025, was a retaliatory counterterror operation initiated after more than 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-trained terrorists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in April. The victims, largely tourists, were targeted based on religious motives. In response, the Indian Air Force conducted precision air strikes, successfully eliminating terror hideouts and key militant leaders in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The escalating conflict resulted in Pakistan deploying drones to attack Indian civilians, pushing both nations toward a ceasefire.
During this period, Turkey’s involvement sparked widespread anger in India. The country supplied drones to Pakistan, which were reportedly used in attacks against India. Additionally, Azerbaijan expressed its support for Pakistan, publicly condemning India’s air strikes. Diplomatic visits from Pakistani officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir, further solidified the alliance between the three countries, strengthening their ties.
Tourism Impact and Industry Response
The geopolitical tensions have resulted in a significant backlash from Indian travellers, with many opting to avoid Turkey and Azerbaijan as a form of protest. While the Indian government did not issue an official travel advisory, the sentiment of the public, combined with actions from major online travel agencies, such as MakeMyTrip and EaseMyTrip, has clearly reflected this reluctance. These platforms reportedly discouraged bookings to the two nations, citing the diplomatic stance taken by Turkey and Azerbaijan during the conflict.
Although informal, this “soft sanction” has heavily impacted the tourism sector in both countries. The combined influence of public opinion and the private sector’s response suggests that Indian travellers are unwilling to support nations that stood in solidarity with Pakistan during the heightened conflict.
Tourism Decline in Azerbaijan and Turkey
Azerbaijan has seen a dramatic downturn in tourist arrivals from India, with the number of Indian visitors falling by almost 70% from June to August 2025. Only 20,631 Indian nationals visited the country during this period, compared to 69,576 in 2024. The drop is particularly noticeable when looking at the monthly figures: in June 2025, only 9,934 Indian tourists visited Azerbaijan, down from 28,315 in June 2024. The decline continued through July and August, with July’s numbers falling from 20,124 in 2024 to 4,665 in 2025, and August’s from 21,137 to 6,032.
Turkey has also suffered a significant decrease in Indian arrivals, with a 38% drop in tourist numbers. In 2024, 93,963 Indian nationals visited Turkey, but this figure plummeted to just 58,544 in 2025. This downward trend is visible across all summer months, with a steady decline in the number of visitors. June 2025 saw only 24,250 Indian tourists, down from 38,307 in 2024, followed by 16,825 in July (a decrease from 28,875) and 17,649 in August (down from 26,781).
These statistics clearly indicate that the ongoing geopolitical tensions have had a sustained impact on tourism, with Indian travellers turning their backs on both countries in response to their diplomatic actions.
Indian tourism to Turkey and Azerbaijan has dropped by seventy percent following the fallout from Operation Sindoor, as Indian travellers boycott these nations over their support of Pakistan during the conflict. This significant decline reflects growing diplomatic tensions and protest from the Indian public.
The backlash against Turkey and Azerbaijan is a reflection of the broader shift in how geopolitical tensions influence travel decisions. While the Indian government has not officially imposed sanctions, the public’s response, combined with industry actions, has created a significant economic ripple for both nations. The travel decline is not just a temporary shift but could potentially reshape long-term tourism trends as Indian travellers continue to seek destinations that align with their geopolitical values.
With these dramatic drops in tourist arrivals, Azerbaijan and Turkey may need to reassess their diplomatic approaches in order to restore relationships with Indian travellers. In the meantime, the ripple effect of Operation Sindoor continues to reverberate through the global tourism industry.
