Want to hurt Turkey and Azerbaijan for backing Pakistan? Billionaire Harsh Goenka says Indians can cause Rs 4,000 crore blow by doing this
Billionaire Harsh Goenka has called on Indians to boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan after both countries extended support to Pakistan following the
Pahalgam terror attack
in Kashmir. Goenka, Chairman of
RPG Group
, posted a direct appeal on X, highlighting the significant contribution of Indian tourists to the two nations' economies last year.
'Indians gave ₹4,000+ crore to Turkey & Azerbaijan last year through tourism. Created jobs. Boosted their economy, hotels, weddings, flights. Today, both stand with Pakistan after Pahalgam attack. Plenty of beautiful places in India & the world. Please skip these 2 places. Jai Hind,' wrote Goenka on 10 May 2025.
— hvgoenka (@hvgoenka)
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His post triggered an immediate and widespread response from India's travel industry and netizens alike.
Travel industry joins national call for boycott
Indian travel platforms
swiftly moved to show solidarity. Ixigo was among the first, posting on X:
'In solidarity with our nation, ixigo is suspending flight and hotel bookings for Turkey, Azerbaijan and China. Because when it comes to Bharat, we don't think twice. Jai Hind.'
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— ixigo (@ixigo)
Cox & Kings announced a temporary suspension of bookings to Turkey, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, stating:
'WE STAND WITH INDIA. Sometimes, a pause becomes a necessity. In light of the current national sentiments, we're putting a temporary hold on all new travel to Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. Even though respect and understanding of the world remain at the heart of everything we do, while the nation waits, so will some of our journeys. #JaiHind #CoxAndKings.'
— coxandkingsIN (@coxandkingsIN)
EaseMyTrip issued a travel advisory, saying, 'Travel Advisory!!! Following the Pahalgam attack and escalating tensions between India & Pakistan, travellers are urged to stay aware. As Turkey & Azerbaijan have shown support for Pakistan, we strongly recommend visiting only if absolutely necessary. Stay informed. Travel responsibly.'
— EaseMyTrip (@EaseMyTrip)
Co-founder of EaseMyTrip, Prashant Pitti says, "We were the first ones to take out a travel advisory against Turkey and Azerbaijan when we got to know that these countries were supporting the wrong side. After us, many travel agencies took our similar advisories."
Online platform Pickyourtrail also declared. 'We've paused all new travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan. When national interest is at stake, we stand with India. While we remain deeply respectful of all people and cultures, some journeys must wait. Jai Hind.'
— Pickyourtrail (@Pickyourtrail)
Go Homestays took a definitive step, announcing, 'We are officially ending our partnership with Turkish Airlines due to their unsupportive stance towards India. Going forward, we will no longer include their flights in our international travel packages. Jai Hind.'
— GoHomestay (@GoHomestay)
Also Read:
Indians boycott Turkey, Azerbaijan for backing Pakistan after Operation Sindoor; cancellations up 250%: MakeMyTrip
Travel bookings nosedive as tensions surge
The consequences of the boycott are already visible. MakeMyTrip confirmed a sharp drop in demand:
'Indian travellers have expressed strong sentiments over the past one week, with bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey decreasing by 60%, while cancellations have surged by 250% during the same period,' said a MakeMyTrip spokesperson.
'We have already discontinued all promotions and offers on our platform to discourage tourism to these two destinations,' the company added.
Meanwhile, Goa Villas declared, 'Due to Turkey's non-cooperative stance in the current global scenario involving India and Pakistan, we've decided not to offer any accommodation services to Turkish citizens in Goa. We stand firmly with our nation. Jai Hind.'
Operation Sindoor and the fallout
The Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April 2025, which killed 26 Indian tourists, triggered nationwide grief and outrage. In response, India launched 'Operation Sindoor' on 7 May, striking nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Soon after, both Turkey and Azerbaijan made public statements supporting Pakistan. Their remarks, viewed by many Indians as provocative, led to a wave of online criticism and the current travel boycott campaign.
The backlash has been fierce. Social media users have recalled India's past goodwill, including its humanitarian aid to Turkey following a devastating earthquake. The contrast between that support and Turkey's present stance has only intensified public anger.
Indians were the second-largest group of foreign visitors to Turkey after the Chinese in 2024, spending more per capita than most other travellers. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, saw a 108% surge in Indian tourist arrivals last year.
The call to boycott tourism is not merely symbolic. If sustained, the impact could significantly affect the hospitality and travel sectors of both countries. Indian tourists, weddings, and business events contribute heavily to their economies.
For many Indians, the issue is not just about geopolitics, but about principle. The travel industry's rapid alignment with this sentiment shows how patriotism and public opinion can translate into real-world action.
As Goenka stated plainly, 'Plenty of beautiful places in India and the world. Please skip these 2 places. Jai Hind.'
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