In what can only be described as a diplomatic miscalculation of major proportions, Turkey’s open support for Pakistan during the recent India-Pakistan conflict Operation Sindoor has triggered a fierce backlash from Indian travellers. The result was a catastrophic 37% drop in Indian tourist arrivals to Turkey in June 2025, hitting the country right where it hurts in its tourism-dependent economy.
Official data from Turkey shows only 24,250 Indian tourists visited Turkey in June this year, down from 38,307 in June 2024. May figures were equally dismal, dropping from 41,554 last year to 31,659 in 2025. For a country that relies heavily on Indian travellers during the summer peak season; far from a routine decline, this drop reflects a deliberate and pointed rejection of Turkey’s actions.
Turkish Drones in Pakistan and Indian Outrage
The tipping point came on May 9, when India revealed that Turkish-made SONGAR ASISGUARD drones were used by Pakistan in a cross-border attack that took innocent lives in Pahalgam. The debris from the strike, recovered by Indian forces, confirmed the drones’ Turkish origin, leaving no doubt about Ankara’s involvement.
The backlash was swift. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a fiery address to Parliament, named Turkey alongside China and Azerbaijan as the only countries that openly backed Pakistan during the operation. These three nations, long known to toe Islamabad’s line at global forums like the United Nations and the OIC, now find themselves diplomatically isolated from New Delhi.
More notably, they’re now facing the wrath of Indian consumers. Indian social media lit up with calls to boycott Turkey, and top travel platforms including MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, and Cleartrip responded by suspending promotions for Turkish destinations. The impact of that boycott is now being felt in real numbers.
Tourism Takes a Hit as Travel Sentiment Turns
May and June typically mark the highest volume of Indian outbound tourism to Turkey. From hot-air balloon rides in Cappadocia to Bosphorus cruises in Istanbul, Turkey has long been a favourite among Indian honeymooners, families, and Bollywood shoots. But this year, Indian footfall has evaporated, and the reasons are deeply political.
A senior Indian government official explained that while May still saw some pre-booked travel, the real impact hit in June, once the drone revelations and Turkey’s posturing became publicly known. ‘Indians usually book vacations in advance. The full effect of the boycott is visible now and it’s just the beginning,’ the official warned.
Modi’s Cyprus Stop: A Not-So-Subtle Message to Erdoğan
In a move that sent diplomatic shockwaves, Prime Minister Modi made an unscheduled stop in Cyprus while en route to the G7 Summit in Canada. The stopover wasn’t just symbolic, it was strategic. Modi and the President of Cyprus toured Nicosia’s historic centre along the UN ceasefire line, drawing attention to Turkey’s illegal occupation of Northern Cyprus since 1974.
To add to the growing suspicion around Turkey’s role, Indian intelligence tracked a Turkish C-130E Hercules aircraft landing in Karachi on April 28 less than a week after the Pahalgam attack. On April 30, Lt Gen Yasar Kadioglu, a top Turkish military official, met with Pakistan Air Force leadership in Islamabad, raising serious questions about drone transfers and deeper military cooperation. In return, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Ankara personally to thank the Turkish leadership.
Boycott with Teeth: Economic Repercussions Begin
Turkey’s tourism sector, which saw a boom in Indian arrivals in recent years, is now reeling. The Indian traveller is no longer just a passive consumer, they’re a political force, and Ankara is learning that the hard way.
The message is loud and clear: nations that side with terrorism or aggression against India will face consequences, not just in diplomacy, but in dollars. And for Turkey, this summer’s numbers speak louder than any statement Erdoğan could make.
