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The aftershocks of Operation Sindoor are being felt far beyond the diplomatic corridors — even in global tourism charts. Since May 2025, travel data show a sharp decline in Indian tourists heading to Turkey and Azerbaijan, both of which openly backed Pakistan during the brief India–Pakistan confrontation earlier this year.

Sharp Decline in Numbers

Turkey witnessed a 24% drop in Indian arrivals in May 2025 and a 37% plunge in June, compared with the same months in 2024. Cumulative arrivals for the first half of the year fell to 1.39 lakh, down from 1.64 lakh a year ago.

Azerbaijan, which saw a record 2.44 lakh Indian visitors in 2024, is now reporting a visible slowdown in 2025, with several Indian travel portals citing mass cancellations and a 250% rise in trip withdrawals immediately after Operation Sindoor.

Public Sentiment Turns the Tide

Travel experts attribute this slump to both geopolitical sentiment and price inflation, but social media trends suggest a growing sense of citizen-led diplomacy. Indians took exception to the two Muslim-majority countries’ stance in supporting Pakistan, prompting calls to “Skip Turkey” across travel forums.

New Travel Hotspots for Indians

Instead, Indians are shifting to Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe.

• Thailand: Over 1 million Indian arrivals by mid-2025, boosted by visa-free access and low-cost connectivity.
• Vietnam: Nearly 4.4 lakh Indian visitors (Jan–Aug 2025), a 20% YoY rise.
• Georgia: Indian arrivals surged 40% in early 2025, crossing 1.2 lakh in 2024.
• Abu Dhabi & Bali: Both markets have seen a double-digit increase in Indian tourists, backed by new direct flights.

Why Indian Travellers Are Choosing Vietnam & Thailand Over Goa | 2025 Travel Trends

A Reflection of India’s Soft Power

While official agencies refrain from calling it a boycott, the travel choices of millions of Indians reflect an assertive national consciousness. Tourism, often apolitical, has become a quiet yet powerful tool of public diplomacy.

As one Mumbai-based travel agency put it, “People aren’t just planning holidays anymore — they’re making statements.”

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