Indians React: Boycott Turkey & Azerbaijan

Indians Boycott Turkey & Azerbaijan After Operation Sindoor

Indian tourism industry responds strongly to Turkey and Azerbaijan’s pro-Pakistan stand after the Pahalgam attack.

In the days following India’s powerful military response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, a new trend is sweeping across the Indian travel industry: Boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan. As these countries openly supported Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, Indian citizens and travel companies have united to send a clear message — national pride comes first.

Why Are Indians Boycotting Turkey and Azerbaijan?

After 26 brave lives were lost in the Pahalgam terror strike, India acted swiftly. Through Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces launched a missile strike on terror hubs across the Pakistan border. This bold move was praised by many around the world, but surprisingly, Turkey and Azerbaijan took a different stand — they expressed support for Pakistan.

This angered many Indians. In response, hashtags like #BoycottTurkeyAzerbaijan, #IndiaFirst, and #OperationSindoor started trending on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.

How Indian Travel Companies Are Taking a Stand

Go Homestays
Announced the termination of its partnership with Turkish Airlines, citing Turkey’s “unsupportive stance towards India.

We are officially ending our partnership with Turkish Airlines due to their unsupportive stance towards India. Going forward, we will no longer include their flights in our international travel packages. Jai Hind
— Go Homestays (@GoHomestay) May 8, 2025

EaseMyTrip
Advised Indian travelers to avoid Turkey and Azerbaijan unless absolutely necessary, emphasizing traveler safety amid rising tensions.

Travel Advisory!!!

Following the Pahalgam attack and escalating tensions between India & Pakistan, travellers are urged to stay aware.

As Turkey & Azerbaijan have shown support for Pakistan, we strongly recommend visiting only if absolutely necessary.

Stay informed. Travel… pic.twitter.com/gmdieqjyFH
— EaseMyTrip.com (@EaseMyTrip) May 8, 2025

Pickyourtrail
Suspended all new travel bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan, stating that the move is a stance against policies conflicting with India’s national interest.

Jai Hind 🇮🇳#TravelWithPurpose #StandWithIndia #OperationSindhoor @HariPyt pic.twitter.com/wH4AuFqmls
— Pickyourtrail | Hassle-free Holidays (@Pickyourtrail) May 8, 2025

Cox & Kings
Temporarily paused all new travel offerings to Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, advising travelers to exercise discretion.

WE STAND WITH INDIA

Sometimes, a pause becomes a necessity.

In light of the current national sentiments, we’re putting a temporary hold on all new travel to Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

Even though respect and understanding of the world remain at the heart of everything…
— Cox & Kings (@coxandkingsIN) May 9, 2025

Indian Social Media Speaks Loud and Clear

Angry and patriotic Indian citizens are now flooding social media with messages asking fellow Indians to boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan. One viral message read:

“In 2024, 2.4 lakh Indians went to Azerbaijan and 3.3 lakh visited Turkey. Why fund nations that support our enemies? Travel to friendly nations like Armenia and Greece instead!”

This message has become a rallying call for many, especially those planning their summer holidays abroad.

Political Leaders Join the Movement

Even Indian political leaders have joined the campaign. Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC publicly urged airlines like IndiGo to break their partnerships with Turkish Airlines. She said, “Strong foreign policy starts at home. We should not partner with those who don’t stand with us.”

Possible Impact on Turkish and Azerbaijani Tourism

India is a fast-growing source of international tourists. In 2024 alone, over 5.7 lakh Indian tourists visited Turkey and Azerbaijan combined. If this boycott continues, both countries could lose millions in revenue from Indian travellers.

Furthermore, travel experts are predicting that this boycott could influence other sectors too, including trade, aviation, and hospitality.

For many Indians, travel is not just about sightseeing — it’s about values. This growing boycott shows how deeply Indians care about national dignity. And when other countries support our enemies, Indians are making it loud and clear: we won’t spend our money there.

As this sentiment grows, expect to see more travel agencies and businesses joining the campaign. For now, if you’re planning an international trip, you might want to skip Turkey and Azerbaijan and choose nations that support India’s fight against terror.