Odisha tourists cancel trips to Türkiye, Azerbaijan & China | Bhubaneswar News – Times of India

Bhubaneswar: Tourists from Odisha are cancelling their planned trips to Türkiye, Azerbaijan and China amid reports of these countries allegedly supplying arms and drones to Pakistan.Travel agencies across the state reported a significant surge in cancellations, with travellers citing patriotic reasons for their decisions.“More than half of our 30 confirmed group bookings to Türkiye and Azerbaijan this summer have been cancelled after news of these countries’ involvement in supplying arms to Pakistan,” said Soumendra Das, director of a Bhubaneswar-based travel firm.The trend has affected travel businesses across major cities. Sujal Pati, a Rourkela-based travel operator, confirmed receiving multiple cancellation requests. “People are expressing their displeasure against countries that potentially threaten our national security,” he said.Tourists are now redirecting their travel plans to Southeast Asian destinations like Vietnam, Thailand and South Korea. Rashmi Panda, a Bhubaneswar teacher who cancelled her anniversary trip to Cappadocia, Türkiye, said, “We’ve switched our destination to Vietnam instead.”Social media campaigns urging people to avoid “anti-India” countries have fuelled this sentiment. “Our soldiers and civilians are being attacked with drones from these countries. How can we enjoy their hospitality while they empower our enemy?” questioned Manas Ranjan Nayak, a retired banker.Software engineer Ankit Mohapatra from Cuttack, who cancelled his Shanghai trip, emphasised the economic aspect. “Every rupee spent there helps their economy. I would rather support a country that respects India’s sovereignty,” he said.While the Centre hasn’t issued any official travel advisory, the public reaction continues to impact international travel patterns from the region.