Turkey Boycott Impacts Tourism: Over 15 Cancellations from Indore and MP, Tourists Shift to Russia, Dubai, Georgia
The impact of the boycott against Turkey, following its support for Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack on May 16, is becoming evident in Indore and across Madhya Pradesh. More than 15 bookings to Turkey have already been cancelled. Tourists who planned trips for the last week of May and in June have now cancelled their flight and hotel bookings.
A boycott of Azerbaijan is also underway. The Tour Operator Association is advising travelers to avoid both these countries. Travel company director Bhavna Jadon said, “A group of 14 people was scheduled to travel to Istanbul, but after we explained the situation, they canceled the tour.” Another travel company director, Neeraj Patil, mentioned that an 18-member group canceled their Turkey trip and has now planned a visit to Georgia instead.
This scenario is reminiscent of the Maldives boycott in 2024 after an offensive comment by a Maldivian minister against India. In 2023, over 56,000 Indians visited the Maldives, but this number dropped to 34,847 in 2024 until the minister issued an apology, leading to a recovery.
Local Tourists Also Canceling Plans
Rajesh Vijayvargiya, a resident of MIG Colony in Indore, had planned a family trip to Turkey months in advance. However, he has now decided to cancel the trip and plan a vacation in another country.
A family from Gulmohar Colony, who had booked their trip for June, also canceled their Turkey bookings upon learning that Turkey supported Pakistan. “No matter how much money we lose, we will not travel to Turkey now,” they said.
Over 5.25 Lakh Indians Visited These Countries in 2023
Hemendra Singh Jadon, President of the Travel Agents Association of India (Madhya Pradesh), said, “Five days ago, our association officially boycotted Turkey and Azerbaijan. We are no longer accepting new bookings for these destinations. Public sentiment is also strongly against traveling to these countries.”
In 2024, approximately 5.25 lakh Indians traveled to Turkey and Azerbaijan. With the boycott in effect, travelers are now exploring other alternatives like Russia, Georgia, and Dubai.
India Cancels Clearance of Turkish Ground Services Company
Amid the boycott, the Indian government has revoked the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd., effective immediately. According to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), this step was taken in the interest of national security.
Celebi, a Turkish ground-handling company, will no longer be allowed to operate at Indian airports. It previously provided services at major airports including Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Kannur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Goa, Ahmedabad, and Chennai.
Turkey and Azerbaijan criticized India’s ‘Operation Sindoor,’ which targeted terrorist camps. Their stance of supporting Pakistan led to public and administrative backlash in India, sparking widespread travel cancellations and service suspensions.