Support for Pakistan costs Turkey crores as Indians cancel travel

Turkey’s overt diplomatic tilt towards Pakistan during its latest skirmish with India is now exacting a steep economic price, as Indian tourists — once a booming source of revenue — cancel travel plans en masse.

In a swift and dramatic fallout, leading Indian travel agencies have pulled Turkey from their itineraries, while political leaders, business magnates, and public voices mount a growing campaign to boycott the country.

In an urgent attempt at damage control, Turkey’s Department of Tourism issued a public appeal to Indian travelers, stressing that “Indian guests are welcomed and treated with the utmost courtesy across Turkey.”

A message circulated widely on social media claimed that “the vast majority of locals are unaware of the geopolitical tensions” and insisted that daily life — including tourism — remains unaffected.

But the attempt at reassurance has landed flat with Indian citizens, many of whom see Turkey’s military and political camaraderie with Pakistan as an unforgivable provocation — especially in the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack that claimed Indian lives.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi fired back on X (formerly Twitter):
“No Turkiye, Indians won’t come spending money on tourism in a country that uses the same to arm Pakistan… our money ain’t blood money.”

Her sentiment was echoed across party lines. BJP’s Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar was blunt: “No, thank you,” punctuating his refusal with hashtags like #BoycottTurkey and #SayNoToTurkey.

Veteran journalist Vir Sanghvi delivered an especially scathing critique:

“You must be mad if you think we want to visit a country whose naked military support for Pakistan and drones have spilled the blood of Indians. Invite Pakistani tourists instead.”

Beyond political outrage, the boycott is hitting where it hurts most — the bottom line. Industrialist Harsh Goenka, Chairman of RPG Enterprises, noted:

“Indians gave Rs 4,000 crore plus to Turkey & Azerbaijan last year through tourism… Today, both stand with Pakistan. Plenty of beautiful places in India & the world. Please skip these 2 places.”

India’s leading travel platforms, including EaseMyTrip and Cox & Kings, have already suspended tour packages to Turkey and Azerbaijan. The cancellations are expected to deal a multi-crore blow to Turkey’s tourism sector, which has long relied on the Indian market for big-ticket spending, destination weddings, and luxury travel.

Turkey’s diplomatic stance, now seen as a costly miscalculation, may ultimately do more harm to its economy than any short-term political alignment could justify. With Indian sentiment hardening by the day, regaining trust — and tourist traffic — could prove an uphill battle.