After Turkey, Azerbaijan suffers for supporting Pakistan during Op Sindoor; tourism dips 66 percent due to…
Azerbaijan tourism has suffered a massive impact as Indian tourists cancelled bookings to the country after it openly supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.
Published: August 24, 2025 10:02 PM IST
Azerbaijan Tourism: After Turkey, Azerbaijan is now feeling a significant impact on its tourism industry as Indian tourists cancelled their plans and bookings to the country after it openly supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and the ensuring India-Pakistan conflict earlier this year. According to official data, the number of Indian tourists visiting Azerbaijan in June 2025 dipped by more than 66 percent, or two-thirds ,compared to the same time last year.
How Indian tourists’ boycott impacted Azerbaijan?
As per official figures, a total of 9,934 Indian tourists visited Azerbaijan in the month of June, compared 28,315 in the same month last year, a decrease of 66% in a year. May and June are considered the peak months for Indian tourists to visit Azerbaijan.
In May, 23,326 Indian tourists had arrived in Azerbaijan, but the situation changed drastically after the country’s stance on the India-Pakistan conflict following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The primary reason for the figures not declining in May is that bookings are made in advance and most travel companies refuse to cancel at short notice.
However, the numbers fell sharply in June after May bookings were fulfilled as most Indians cancelled plans to visit the country.
Why Indian tourists boycotted Turkey and Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijan, along with Turkey and China, were among the countries who openly supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. After the India-Pakistan ceasefire, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir visited Baku in May to attend a trilateral meeting between Turkey, Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
Notably, a promotional video by Azerbaijan’s tourism department had described India as its top target market, with over 2,34,589 Indian tourists visiting the country in 2024.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The number of Indian tourists to Azerbaijan declined by 66% percent in June 2025.
- Turkey had Azerbaijan had openly supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.
- Azerbaijan had emerged as a popular tourist destination among Indian in recent years.
- A promotional video by Azerbaijan’s tourism department had described India as its top target market.
Meanwhile, Turkey bore the brunt of the boycott after Ankara came out in support of Pakistan during the recent India-Pakistan war. A ‘Boycott Turkey’ campaign was started in India as Indians boycotted Turkish goods and cancelled tourist bookings to the country, resulting in a huge decline in the number of Indian tourists visiting to Turkey.
According to media reports, the number of Indian tourists who visited Turkey in June slumped to 24,250 from the 38,307 in the same month last year, a decline of 37 percent, while the numbers also dropped significantly in the month of May, dealing a major blow to Turkey’s tourism industry and its economy.
