Turkey is grappling with a steep decline in demand from Indian tourists after its public support for Pakistan during the recent Indo-Pakistan conflict. Once a top destination for Indian travellers, Turkey is now facing widespread cancellations and a halt in new bookings from one of its key source markets.
Turkey’s Tourism Sector Hit by Political Fallout
According to Sandeep Khetarpal, founder of Zotrav, a B2B travel marketplace, interest in Turkey has plummeted dramatically.
“There’s been a sharp drop in demand for Turkey, with nearly 80% of bookings either cancelled or postponed,” Khetarpal said. “Since the conflict, we haven’t received any new enquiries for Turkey.”
India was previously one of the fastest-growing source markets for Turkey, with a 20.7% increase in Indian tourists in 2024 compared to 2023. However, this growth has come to an abrupt stop after a deadly militant attack in Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley killed 26 tourists. India responded with Operation Sindoor, launching airstrikes on Pakistani territory. In response, Turkey issued a statement supporting Pakistan—triggering a strong reaction from India’s travel industry.
Indian Travel Community Reacts Strongly to Turkey’s Pro-Pakistan Comments
The Indian travel trade has voiced unified disapproval of Turkey’s political positioning.
“Sentiments have been badly hurt due to Turkey’s support of Pakistan. While some business trips are still ongoing, leisure demand is practically zero,” said Aman Baweja, Director of Strategic Alliances at Travomint.
He added that other segments like MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and destination weddings are also seeing reduced demand for Turkey. Instead, Indian travellers are now turning to alternatives like Southeast Asia and Europe.
Indian Tourists Actively Avoiding Turkey
Aditya Tyagi, founder of luxury travel company Luxe Escape, confirmed the growing resistance toward Turkey.
“Our clients just don’t want to visit Turkey at this time. The perception has changed drastically.”
This sentiment reflects a broader slowdown in India’s outbound tourism in the wake of recent geopolitical tensions, but the drop is particularly sharp when it comes to Turkey.
Ceasefire Brings Calm, But Turkey’s Image Damage Lingers
India and Pakistan recently agreed to a ceasefire, pausing immediate hostilities. However, the impact on Turkey’s tourism appeal in the Indian market may be long-lasting. The travel trade community suggests that unless diplomatic perceptions shift, Turkey could continue to lose ground to more politically neutral destinations.
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