Travel Advisory Issued for Turkey and Azerbaijan Amid Rising Tensions

India and Turkey had recently outraged their respective nations with their diplomatic stance supporting Pakistan amidst escalating tensions. In response, tourism platforms such as EaseMyTrip and MakeMyTrip have issued advisories against visiting Turkey and Azerbaijan due to safety concerns and political tensions. EaseMyTrip's co-founder Rikant Pittie stated that recent geopolitical tensions have substantially affected travel patterns, with cancellation rates reaching 22% for Turkey and 30% for Azerbaijan. Travelers are increasingly opting for unaffected destinations such as Georgia, Serbia, Greece, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Key Takeaways:

• EaseMyTrip has issued a travel advisory against non-essential travel to Azerbaijan and Turkey, citing security risks and political tensions.
• The company has seen a significant shift in travel trends, with a 250% surge in cancellations and a 60% drop in bookings to both destinations within one week.
• MakeMyTrip noted a 250% surge in cancellations and a 60% drop in bookings to both destinations within one week.
• The Indian Chamber of Commerce's Expert Committee on Aviation and Tourism predicts a 50% to 60% decline in tourism to the two countries.
• Chairman Subhash Goyal urged the Indian government to issue a formal travel advisory for citizens.
• Some trade bodies in India have announced a boycott of Turkish goods such as apples and marble in response to Ankara's diplomatic stance.

Statistics:

• 22% cancellation rate for Turkey
• 30% cancellation rate for Azerbaijan
• 250% surge in cancellations for Turkey and Azerbaijan at MakeMyTrip
• 60% drop in bookings for Turkey and Azerbaijan at MakeMyTrip
• 50% to 60% decline in tourism to Turkey and Azerbaijan predicted by the Indian Chamber of Commerce's Expert Committee on Aviation and Tourism

Sources:

• IE Online Media Services Pvt. Lt.
• Contify.com
• Financial Express