Indian tourist numbers to Azerbaijan plunge over Pakistan support: Report

Azerbaijan

In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, Indian travelers have not only avoided Turkey but also significantly reduced visits to Azerbaijan as well.

According to official tourism data, the number of Indian tourists visiting Azerbaijan in June 2025 dropped by two-thirds compared to the same period last year, reflecting a steep decline following the surgical strikes and mirroring the trend seen with Turkey.

Dip in numbers

The figures, cited in a News18 report, reveal that only 9,934 Indian tourists visited Azerbaijan in June this year, a sharp decline from 28,315 during the same month in 2024. This marks an almost 66% plunge in Indian tourist arrivals following Operation

Sindoor and Azerbaijan’s explicit support for Pakistan during the conflict.

Notably, May and June are peak months for Indian tourists visiting Azerbaijan. In May alone, 23,326 Indians travelled to the country. However, this was followed by a steep drop in June, with only 9,934 tourists from India, a decline of nearly 66%.

This significant dip in tourism followed Operation Sindoor, launched by Indian armed forces in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.

It should be mentioned here that during the operation, Turkey and Azerbaijan were the only countries that openly backed Pakistan on global platforms.

In May, shortly after the launch of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir visited Azerbaijan to express gratitude for its support. A trilateral meeting involving Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan was also held. Interestingly, until recently, Azerbaijan had identified India as a priority market for its tourism sector.

According to the Azerbaijan Tourism Department, “The number of guests, overnight stays, and expenditures is growing, and India is among the top three countries visiting Azerbaijan. In 2024, Indian arrivals reached 243,589, a 108% increase compared to 117,302 in 2023.”

However, diplomatic tensions have affected people-to-people engagement as well.

The official website of Azerbaijan’s tourism authority reportedly displays a distorted map of India, excluding Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Aksai Chin, a move that has sparked concern in India, as reported by News18.

Indian tourist arrivals to Turkey have witnessed a significant decline over the past three months, with official data indicating a nearly 50% drop. According to figures released by Turkish authorities and accessed by News18, only 16,244 Indian tourists visited Turkey in July 2025, compared to 31,659 in May and 24,250 in June.

The year-on-year comparison marks a similarly steep fall -- 28,875 Indians visited Turkey in July 2024, almost 44% more than this July.

This dramatic slump in tourism follows revelations that Turkish-manufactured SONGAR ASISGUARD drones were deployed by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Turkey, alongside China and Azerbaijan, was among the only three countries at the United Nations that backed Pakistan during the conflict.

As per the News18 report, Indian tourism to Turkey has nearly halved following the emergence of Ankara’s military and diplomatic alignment with Pakistan. In response, the phrase “Boycott Turkey” has gained traction across Indian social media.

In addition, leading travel platforms such as MakeMyTrip and EaseMyTrip have reduced or discouraged promotional offerings for both Turkey and Azerbaijan following these developments.