India brings Turkey on its knees for supporting Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Erdogan faces loss of Rs…, tourism falls by…

New Delhi: India is sending a strong message to Turkey for siding with Pakistan during ‘Operation Sindoor’. The backlash hasn’t come from the government alone—ordinary citizens have also joined the boycott, leading to significant economic setbacks for Turkey. The number of Indian tourists visiting Turkey, which had been rising rapidly, has now started to decline sharply. The number of Indian tourists fell by 24 percent in the month of May, according to official statistics from Turkey’s tourism department.

Data shows that in May 2024, 41,554 Indian tourists visited Turkey, but this number dropped to 31,659 in May 2025. This decline came after Turkey supported Pakistan following India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ carried out on the night of May 9 and 10.

India had shot down Turkish drones

The drones used by bankrupt Pakistan during Operation Sindoor  were found to be of Turkish origin, based on the debris recovered. The drones used by the Pakistan Army were the same models employed by the Turkish military. Following this revelation, the Indian government and the general public began boycotting Turkey.

Trips Cancelled:

There has been a massive drop in flight bookings from India to Turkey after the dispute began. Online travel booking companies like MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, and Cleartrip stopped promoting tourist packages to Turkey. Although the overall impact seems limited, a drop of 10,000 tourists within just one month is a significant indicator.

May and June Are the peak season

The vacations in India begin in the month of May and June and these months are considered the peak months for tourism. If we look at last year, the number of Indian tourists visiting Turkey was 31,934 in April, which rose to 41,554 in May, and remained strong at 38,307 in June. However, in May 2025, only 31,659 Indian travelers visited Turkey — almost the same as April’s 30,169. It is estimated that the impact of the boycott will become fully visible in the month of June.

Further Decline Expected in June

It is important to note that the Indian tourists usually book most of their trips in advance. The impact of this boycott was more visible in the second half of May, and accordingly, a greater decline is expected in the month of June. For Turkey’s tourism sector, the month of June is likely to turn out quite poorly.

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