Top Indian Travel Firms Suspend Trips to Turkey, Azerbaijan Amid Geopolitical Fallout
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In response to heightened India–Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam attack, three of India’s leading travel companies—EaseMyTrip, Ixigo, and Cox & Kings—have suspended travel offerings to Turkey and Azerbaijan, citing concerns over these countries’ perceived support for Pakistan during the ongoing conflict.
This development reflects a growing trend of Indian businesses aligning with national sentiment, particularly as geopolitical dynamics increasingly influence global commercial relationships.
EaseMyTrip Urges Tourists to Rethink Travel to “Unsupportive Nations”
EaseMyTrip Chairman Nishant Pitti issued a strong statement, asserting that tourism should not fuel economies perceived as unsupportive of India’s national interests.
“Let’s not empower those who don’t stand with us,” he posted.
Pitti highlighted that in the previous year, 287,000 Indian tourists visited Turkey and 243,000 visited Azerbaijan, emphasizing tourism’s economic significance for both nations—12% of Turkey’s GDP and 7.6% of Azerbaijan’s GDP.
“Every rupee we spend abroad is a vote. Let’s spend it where our values are respected. Jai Hind!”
EaseMyTrip also released a travel advisory, urging Indian citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan amid the escalating diplomatic climate.
Cox & Kings Suspends New Travel Bookings to Three Nations
In a parallel move, Cox & Kings Director Karan Agarwal announced the company’s decision to pause all new travel bookings to Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan, framing it as an ethical stance in line with Indian values.
“This decision is driven by our commitment to uphold principles that matter deeply to us and the people of our country.”
Agarwal also advised Indian travellers to exercise discretion, emphasizing that clarity in the geopolitical landscape is necessary before travel to these destinations resumes.
Ixigo Joins Boycott, Adds China to the List
Aloke Bajpai, MD & Group CEO of Ixigo, shared a strong message on X:
“Enough is enough! Blood and bookings won’t flow together.”
Ixigo has now suspended all hotel and flight bookings to Turkey, China, and Azerbaijan, marking a firm stance against countries perceived as not supporting Indian interests.
Tourism and Geopolitics Intertwined
These coordinated moves by Indian travel giants come amid a broader business response to international alignment during the India-Pakistan conflict. Analysts note that such actions signal a shift in how geopolitics directly impacts travel, tourism, and corporate policy decisions.
As nationalistic sentiment surges, companies are increasingly expected to reflect public values and prioritize national security interests, even in commercial domains.
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