A growing boycott of Turkiye, fuelled by public sentiment in India and amplified by social media campaigns, is already having economic and diplomatic repercussions.
The move follows the recent clashes between India and Pakistan. Turkiye and Azerbaijan, both Muslim-majority countries and popular budget travel destinations for Indians, issued statements expressing support for Pakistan—drawing sharp criticism from Indian civil society and political figures.
Outrage on social media quickly translated into calls for a boycott, with hashtags such as #BoycottTurkey gaining traction. Travel agencies report a sharp decline in tourism: bookings to Turkey have dropped by 60%, while cancellations have surged 250%.
Major travel platforms, including EaseMyTrip, MakeMyTrip and Ixigo, have halted promotions, suspended bookings, and issued advisories against non-essential travel to Turkiye.
"Every hardworking Indian who travels abroad understands today that their hard-earned rupee should not be spent on those who help the enemies of our country," Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar told reporters.
Last week, the Ministry of Civil Aviation revoked the security clearance of Turkish ground handling firm Celebi Aviation, which operates at several major Indian airports. The decision was attributed to "national security" concerns. Celebi has since challenged the move in court.
Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, said on X that the government acted after receiving multiple appeals to ban the company. “Recognising the seriousness of the issue and the call to protect national interests, we have taken cognizance of these requests,” he said.
Meanwhile, Indian traders have begun rejecting Turkish imports, including apples, marble, coffee, chocolate and jams. At a national trade conference in New Delhi, more than 125 business leaders from the Confederation of All India Traders resolved to boycott all commercial dealings with both Turkiye and Azerbaijan.
In academia, several prominent Indian institutions—among them IIT Bombay, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Jamia Millia Islamia—have cancelled collaborative agreements with Turkish universities.
Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly advocated a “multilateral” resolution to the Kashmir issue—an approach India rejects. Erdogan has also visited Pakistan multiple times, most recently in February with a delegation aimed at deepening trade and defence ties.
In 2017, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss economic cooperation and counter-terrorism. However, Turkiye's continuing support for Pakistan has drawn criticism in Indian policy circles.
Muddassir Quamar, associate professor at the Centre for West Asian Studies, told the German media outlet DW that Turkiye's position lacks neutrality. “The expectation in New Delhi is for Ankara to view the issue without a Pakistan-centric lens. Until that changes, relations are unlikely to improve,” he said.
Prasanta Kumar Pradhan, a research fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, noted that while the current boycott may not severely impact trade in the short term, a prolonged freeze could lead to more significant disruptions.
Between April 2024 and February 2025, India exported goods worth $5.2 billion to Turkiye, including mineral fuels, machinery, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts and textiles. Imports from Turkiye totalled $2.84 billion, comprising marble, fruit, precious metals, and petroleum products.
The long-term impact of the boycott remains unclear. "High-level diplomatic engagement with Turkiye is unlikely in the near future," said Pradhan, adding that tensions are expected to persist.
According to a Reuters report, Air India recently urged Indian authorities to block budget carrier IndiGo’s aircraft-leasing arrangement with Turkish Airlines, citing both competitive and national security concerns stemming from Turkiye's support for Pakistan.
Even before this latest diplomatic rift, India had cancelled a $2 billion naval consultancy deal with Turkiye's Anadolu Shipyard, which was to assist in building five Fleet Support Ships for the Indian Navy. While the official explanation cited India’s efforts to enhance domestic shipbuilding capabilities, many observers believe Ankara’s ties with Islamabad were a significant factor.
Tara Kartha, a former official with India’s National Security Council secretariat, told DW that Turkiye's alignment with Pakistan has long been a source of discomfort in New Delhi.
Sanjay Bhattacharyya, India’s former ambassador to Turkiye, urged pragmatism. “India must act strategically and in line with its national interests,” he said. “I believe matters will calm down over time, and both sides will eventually find common ground.”