Boycott Turkey trends! THESE items likely to become expensive if India ends ties with Turkey, Check full list here

"Bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey decreasing by 60 percent (over the last week) while cancellations have surged by 250% during the same period," Reuters quoted a spokesperson for MakeMyTrip, as saying.

Written by: Victor Dasgupta Edited by: Victor Dasgupta

Updated: May 15, 2025, 2:57 PM IST

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https://www.india.com/news/india/boycott-turkey-azerbaijan-pakistan-india-operation-sindoor-makemytrip-rikant-pittie-pahalgam-jammu-kashmir-fruits-furniture-kabab-kunafa-turkish-tea-7822356/ Copy

New Delhi: To mark their protest against Turkey and Azerbaijan for supporting Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Indians are calling off their trips to these countries, according to two travel agencies cited by news agency Reuters. It is important to note that the calls to boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan grew in India after both countries publicly supported Pakistan amid rising tensions following Operation Sindoor and the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

“Bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey decreasing by 60 percent (over the last week) while cancellations have surged by 250% during the same period,” Reuters quoted a spokesperson for MakeMyTrip, as saying. EaseMyTrip’s Chief Executive Officer, Rikant Pittie shared a similar development saying, travellers had switched to Georgia, Serbia, Greece, Thailand and Vietnam. “EaseMyTrip had seen a 22 percent rise in cancellations for Turkey and 30 percent for Azerbaijan due to recent geopolitical tensions,” he added.

Ixigo earlier took to social media and said that it is pausing flight and hotel bookings to Turkey, Azerbaijan, and China. EaseMyTrip founder and chairman Nishant Pitti also posted on ‘X’, noting that 287,000 Indians travelled to Turkey and 243,000 to Azerbaijan last year. “When these nations openly support Pakistan, should we fuel their tourism and their economies?” Pitti said.

If trade between the two countries comes to a halt, the prices of many items in India could rise:

• Traders have first decided to stop purchasing apples and marble from Turkey
• It is important to note that 70 percent of imported marble and 1.29 lakh tonnes of apples in India come from Turkey, which will have a significant impact on trade.
• Turkey exports carpets, decorative items, furniture, silk, linen, olive oil, cherries, dried fruits, spices, herbal drinks, industrial machinery, and agricultural equipment to India.
• Turkish dishes such as Kunafa, Turkish kebabs, and Shawarma are highly popular in India.
• The popularity of the Turkish dessert called Kunafa has spread in India due to social media
• In Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh, dishes like ‘Turkish Tea’, Kunafa, and Kebab are very popular.

Subhash Goyal, Chairman of the Tourism Committee at the Indian Chamber of Commerce, said the industry stands for ethical and responsible tourism that aligns with national values.

“Several tourism associations and industry bodies have issued statements of solidarity and collective commitment towards prioritising our national interest over commercial goals. The Indian Chamber of Commerce joins these organisations in demanding a boycott of states like Turkey and Azerbaijan, following their stand against India’s response to terrorism. Tourism is a force for good and a driver of peace, global harmony and international understanding,” Goyal said.