Indian travellers are pulling the plug on their plans to visit Turkey and Azerbaijan in large numbers. According to Prashant Pitti, co-founder of EaseMyTrip, bookings to both countries have taken a major hit following their public support for Pakistan amid rising tensions with India.

“We’ve seen about 22% cancellations for Turkey and over 30% for Azerbaijan,” said Pitti, speaking to ANI. He noted that nearly 3.8 lakh Indians had visited these two countries last year alone.

The drop in travel interest comes after EaseMyTrip suspended all flight and hotel bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan. This move followed statements made by both countries siding with Pakistan after India’s recent military operation, “Operation Sindoor.”

EaseMyTrip isn’t alone. Travel platform Ixigo also announced a halt in bookings to Turkey, Azerbaijan, and China. Ixigo CEO Aloke Bajpai didn’t mince words: “Enough is enough! Blood and bookings won’t flow together,” he said.

MakeMyTrip, another major player, reported a sharp decline in interest as well. The company revealed a 60% drop in bookings for Turkey and Azerbaijan over the past week, with cancellations spiking by 250%.

Prashant Pitti highlighted the financial impact of Indian tourism to these nations, estimating that if each traveller spent just ₹60,000–₹70,000, the collective spending amounted to around ₹2,500 to ₹3,000 crore. “Now this money could potentially come back to harm us, if these nations are arming our enemies,” he warned. “It’s crucial that Indians think carefully about where their money goes.”

The backlash hasn’t stopped at travel. Several Indian traders have started boycotting products from Turkey and Azerbaijan, particularly after reports surfaced that Turkish drones were used by Pakistan to strike Indian targets.

Nishant Pitti, EaseMyTrip’s co-founder, echoed these concerns on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “Travel is a powerful tool. Let’s not use it to empower those who don’t stand with us,” he wrote. He cited that in 2023, 2.87 lakh Indians visited Turkey and 2.43 lakh went to Azerbaijan. “Tourism is a lifeline for their economies—contributing 12% to Turkey’s GDP and 7.6% to Azerbaijan’s.”

He concluded with a powerful message: “When these nations openly support Pakistan, should we really fuel their tourism industries? Every rupee spent abroad is a vote. Let’s spend it where our values are respected. Jai Hind.”