Around 2,000 Indian tourists pull back from Turkey, Azerbaijan; bookings slide south

Initial estimates from industry participants and experts suggest that Indian and international airlines have received around 2,000 booking cancellation requests for trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan between May and July 2025.

"We have received around 2,000 cancellations and rescheduling requests in the last week for travel to Istanbul and Baku over the next three months," a senior airline official told Moneycontrol.

While there has been a substantial rise in cancellation requests in the last week, when looking at the overall passenger traffic to Turkey and Azerbaijan, these cancellations make up less than 5 percent of all travel bookings to the two countries.

"Azerbaijan is becoming a major transport and tourism hub in Eurasia, and its influence in the global aviation landscape is expected to only grow in the coming years," a senior executive from the global trade association for airlines, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), told Moneycontrol.

Baku in Azerbaijan is hosting the Aviation Energy Forum (AEF), organised by IATA, from May 14.

Travel platform Yatra's Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Co-Founder Sabina Chopra has been witnessing a significant shift in traveller sentiment since May 7, with more than 50 percent of holiday package bookings to these destinations getting cancelled.

Cleartrip has recorded a 260 percent rise in cancellations over the past week as Indian travellers have made their sentiments clear.

"In solidarity with the nation and in the interest of standing together during this time, we urge everyone to defer all non-essential travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan," the platform said.

Similarly, MakeMyTrip, India’s largest travel booking platform, has also seen a sharp drop in bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan.

"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," MMT said in a statement on May 14.

While the platform has not stopped offering flight bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan on its website, MMT did say that it stands '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."

The boycott calls against Turkey and Azerbaijan is not limited to social media but is visible in booking demand as cited by many travel platforms which will be a blow to the tourism industry of the two destinations.

While enquiries are coming in for Turkey and Azerbaijan from travellers with prior plans, the overall interest has significantly dipped, compared to previous months, said Rikant Pittie, CEO and Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.

"Many potential travellers are now opting to delay their trips." The platform has seen 22 percent cancellations for Turkey and 30 percent for Azerbaijan so far.

"This shift reflects a growing sense of awareness and prudence among Indian tourists in the light of the ongoing geopolitical situation. A considerable number of travellers who had pre-booked their trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan are choosing to either cancel or postpone their plans by rescheduling. The evolving geopolitical situation has prompted many to re-evaluate the necessity of their travel, especially for leisure purposes," he added.

There are roughly 13,000 seats between India and Turkey each way on a weekly basis, while Azerbaijan and India have a little over 3,000 seats each way on a weekly basis. There remain many one-stop options to both these countries.

According to data from flight-tracking website Flightradar24, IndiGo operates two flights daily between India and Turkey -- one from New Delhi to Istanbul and one from Mumbai to Istanbul while Turkish Airlines operates daily between Istanbul and Delhi and Mumbai and one weekly between Istanbul and Chennai.

No flight cancelled so far

Data from Flightradar24 shows that so far no flight between India and Turkey has been cancelled despite voices asking for a boycott of Turkey and Azerbaijan in India.

Similarly, data from Flightradar24 shows that IndiGo is the only airline currently operating between Delhi and Baku and no flight has been cancelled so far in the past week.

Currently, there are no enquiries about travelling to Turkey in a week to two weeks, noted Govind Gaur, CEO and founder WanderOn, a direct to consumer (D2C) travel technology firm.

"Most Indian travellers with existing bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan are cancelling their plans and have requested for a refund or to reschedule their travel to other destinations," he said.

Pittie added that the enquiries they are receiving for the two destinations are largely cautious in nature, with travellers seeking clarity regarding ground conditions, visa status, travel insurance coverage, and possible cancellations.

"While a small segment is still going ahead with their plans after monitoring official advisories and securing comprehensive travel insurance, the majority are opting for deferments or cancellations. The sentiment among Indian travellers towards Turkey and Azerbaijan has noticeably shifted from enthusiasm to caution.

These destinations, which were once seen as vibrant and culturally rich holiday choices, are now being approached with increased hesitation," he said.

The Karnataka State Travel Operators Association and key travel entrepreneurs across India also came together to boycott the two destinations, saying that "despite the growing tourism numbers from India to Turkey and Azerbaijan, with each country benefiting from over Rs 1,200 crore annually, we believe no business is above our nation's security and dignity."

Hari Ganapathy, Co-Founder, Pickyourtrail, which had last week announced suspension of bookings to the two destinations said that some Indian tourists are enquiring about travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan but they are responding to them with suggestions to other safer destinations.

India a growth market

The boycott calls against Turkey and Azerbaijan are not limited to social media but is visible in booking demand as cited by many travel platforms, which will be a blow to the tourism industry of the two destinations.

Pittie expects a short-term impact. "The impact on Turkey and Azerbaijan tourism industry from the Indian market is likely to be significant in the short term. Some customers have explicitly stated that they are uncomfortable travelling to destinations perceived as unsupportive of India. Such sentiment- based decisions are gaining momentum, particularly among family travellers and group tours. If this trend continues, both countries could witness a steep drop in inbound traffic from India, a market that has consistently contributed to their tourism revenue."

Ganapathy pointed out that India has been a substantial contributor to the tourism sectors of both Turkey and Azerbaijan.

"In 2024, over 270,000 Indian tourists visited Turkey, marking a 20.7 percent increase from the previous year. Similarly, Azerbaijan welcomed approximately 243,000 Indian tourists in 2024, a significant rise from 60,731 in 2022. Furthermore, Indians typically spend between Rs 1–1.25 lakh per trip in Azerbaijan and Rs 2.9-3.35 lakh in Turkey."

After China, India is one of the biggest travel markets for these destinations, noted Gaur.

Pittie said that trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan often involve high-value segments such as destination weddings, luxury holidays, and corporate retreats, making Indian tourists a crucial demographic for both countries.

"With average spending ranging between $1,200 and $2,000 per traveller in the two destinations, the financial impact of Indian tourism is considerable. This steady inflow not only supports hotels and airlines but also fuels local businesses, event planners, and transport services. A decline in travel from India is likely to have a considerable effect across various parts of the tourism ecosystem in both countries," he said.

The sudden drop in Indian tourists will impact their revenue streams, especially in sectors like luxury travel, weddings, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), Gaur added.

Fall of Turkey and Istanbul, rise of Greece and Thailand

As Indians are cancelling Baku and Istanbul from their travel checklist, Southeast Asian countries are getting more preference.

Yatra's Chopra said that Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, have emerged as the preferred choices due to their affordability, ease of travel, and diverse experiences.

Additionally, Georgia is gaining traction among Indian tourists, with cities like Tbilisi and regions like Stepantsminda drawing interest for their scenic landscapes, rich culture, and simplified visa processes, she added.

"Some Indian travellers are switching to safer destinations like Morocco, along with popular countries like Cambodia, which continue to see strong interest due to their accessibility and safety for Indians," Ganapathy said.