MakeMyTrip sees 60% drop in bookings for Turkey, Azerbaijan amid Indo-Pak tensions 

Travel bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan have sharply declined on MakeMyTrip (MMT), one of India’s leading online travel agencies (OTA), as Indian travelers react strongly to the countries' stance on the recent India-Pakistan tensions. The travel company reported a 60% fall in bookings for the two destinations over the past week, alongside a staggering 250% rise in cancellations.

“In solidarity with our nation and out of deep respect for our armed forces, we strongly support this sentiment and advise all against all non-essential travel to Azerbaijan and Turkey. We have already discontinued all promotions and offers on our platform to discourage tourism to these two destinations,” said a spokesperson from MMT.

Meanwhile, EaseMyTrip has also witnessed clear impact on travel patterns. Cancellations have risen to 22% for Turkey and 30% for Azerbaijan.

“In response, many travelers are now shifting their preferences toward safer and more neutral destinations such as Thailand, Bali, and Malaysia. We continue to advise travellers to reconsider non-essential travel to the affected regions and have issued an official advisory to that effect,” said Rikant Pittie, CEO and co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.

EaseMyTrip had earlier boycotted the Maldives for over a year in 2023, citing national sentiment. Pittie said the company has once again issued an official travel advisory urging customers to reconsider non-essential travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan. “From a consumer behaviour standpoint, there is a noticeable change in destination preferences. Bookings for impacted regions have come to a standstill, driven by the uncertainty following the ceasefire. However, airports and regions not directly affected continue to operate as usual, with no significant disruptions reported,” he added.

“At EaseMyTrip, we remain optimistic yet vigilant. The safety and well-being of our travellers is our top priority. We strongly urge everyone to stay informed through verified sources and exercise caution while planning international travel,” Pittie said.

Other travel platforms have reacted similarly. Cleartrip has seen cancellations rising by 260%. "Over the past week, Indian travellers have made their sentiments clear, with cancellations rising by 260%. In solidarity with the nation and in the interest of standing together during this time, we urge everyone to defer all non-essential travel to Turkey & Azerbaijan," the company said in a statement.

Travel aggregator ixigo also suspended flight and hotel bookings for Turkey, Azerbaijan, and China, saying in a social media post, “In solidarity with our nation, ixigo is suspending flight and hotel bookings for Turkey, Azerbaijan and China. Because when it comes to Bharat, we don’t think twice.”

This wave of action from Indian travel companies comes at a time when Turkey and Azerbaijan are looking to expand tourism ties with India. Last year, around 287,000 Indians visited Turkey, while 243,000 travelled to Azerbaijan. Tourism plays a vital economic role in both nations — contributing 12% to Turkey’s GDP and generating about 10% of its jobs. In Azerbaijan, tourism accounts for 7.6% of GDP.

“Travel is a powerful tool,” EaseMyTrip’s chairman had noted in a social media post on Sunday, urging Indian travellers not to empower countries that do not stand with India.

With sentiment shifting and Indian OTAs responding firmly, it remains to be seen how long the freeze on bookings will last.