Indian tourists are leaving Turkey
The diplomatic tension between India and Pakistan has led to a significant decline in the number of Indian visitors to Turkey's tourism sector. Following boycott calls, 80 thousand Indian tourists canceled their travel plans, though an increase in visitors from Far Eastern countries has been noted.
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The tension that emerged between India and Pakistan during the past summer months has led to visible changes in international tourism flows. Turkey's statements following the crisis, which were perceived as favorable toward Pakistan, caused an outcry among the Indian public, leading Indian citizens to turn toward a widespread tourism boycott against Turkey.
In 2024, the interest shown by Indian tourists in Turkey had reached an all-time high, rising to 330 thousand 985 visitors. However, a notable change occurred in this picture in 2025: the number of visitors from India decreased by 25 percent, and compared to the previous year, approximately 80 thousand people turned away from Turkey. According to information obtained from the tourism sector, the period when the withdrawal was most severe was June, when diplomatic troubles between the two countries peaked.
Following the diplomatic developments in June, the Indian government canceled the licenses of Turkish companies in the country one after another and also issued calls for the non-consumption of Turkish products and for Indian tourists to cancel their trips to Turkey. This crisis, which erupted on May 7, 2025, also caused leading travel agencies in the country to suffer major financial losses. Tens of thousands of Indian citizens canceled their Turkey vacations, and the economic impact of this on the sector was felt in a short time.
On the other hand, the Turkish tourism sector continues to break new records in terms of visitors and revenue overall. It has been observed that the large gap created by Indian tourists is being filled by visitors from Far Eastern countries, primarily China. Recent statistics point to a significant increase in the number of Chinese tourists.
These developments have once again demonstrated that international relations and diplomatic statements between countries can create new balances in the tourism industry. Experts warn that similar developments could directly affect tourism movements in the coming period.