Indian Travel Firms Halt Trips to Turkey, Azerbaijan

Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent Pahalgam attack, prominent Indian travel companies EaseMyTrip, Cox & Kings, and Ixigo have suspended all travel-related services to Turkey and Azerbaijan. 

The decision follows growing concerns over the perceived support shown by these countries for Pakistan during the ongoing conflict.

EaseMyTrip has issued a formal travel advisory, urging Indian citizens to reconsider any non-essential travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan, citing the current geopolitical climate. 

Explaining the rationale behind the move, Nishant Pitti, Founder and Chairman of EaseMyTrip, said, “Travel is a powerful tool. Let’s not use it to empower those who don’t stand with us. Last year: 287,000 Indians visited Turkey & 243,000 visited Azerbaijan. Tourism drives their economies: Turkey: 12 per cent of GDP | 10 per cent of jobs, Azerbaijan: 7.6 per cent of GDP | 10 per cent of jobs. When these nations openly support Pakistan, should we fuel their tourism and their economies? Every rupee we spend abroad is a vote. Let’s spend it where our values are respected. Jai Hind!!”

Cox & Kings has also announced a temporary halt on all new travel offerings to Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan. 

In a statement, Karan Agarwal, Director at Cox & Kings, said, “In light of recent developments, we have decided to pause all new travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey. This decision is driven by our commitment to uphold principles that matter deeply to us and the people of our country. We also advise Indian travellers to exercise discretion and avoid any non-essential travel to these destinations until there is greater clarity and alignment in the broader geopolitical environment.”

Travel platform Ixigo has joined in taking similar measures. Aloke Bajpai, Managing Director and Group CEO of Ixigo, posted on social media platform X, stating, “Enough is Enough! Blood and Bookings won’t flow together. We are suspending all flight and hotel bookings for Turkey, China and Azerbaijan on ixigo.”

These decisions reflect a growing sentiment among Indian businesses to align their international operations with national concerns, particularly in response to foreign countries’ positions on regional disputes. 

All three companies have underscored the importance of prioritising national interests and safeguarding Indian travellers in light of the current circumstances.

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