Netizens feel Turkey is 'begging' Indian tourists to come back amid boycott call after letter goes viral, no official word so far

In the alleged letter, the tourism department said: "All travel operations continue as planned, and there are no restrictions or safety issues affecting Indian guests."

Also Read: Several travel agencies suspend packages for Turkey, Azerbaijan for supporting Pakistan following Operation Sindoor

The department said there was no need for Indian tourists to postpone or cancel any trips to Turkey by keeping in mind the current situation.

Meanwhile, Indians, including politicians, shared the viral letter and criticised the country for its pro-Pakistan stand during the recent conflict that was triggered after terrorists killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir, an episode that drew widespread condemnation.

Congress leader Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote on X: "No Türkiye, Indians won’t come spending money on tourism in a country that uses the same to arm Pakistan. Look for your tourists elsewhere, our money ain’t blood money."

Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekha wrote a short message that read: " No thank you. #BoycottTurkey #SayNoToTurkey."

An X user wrote in the comment section: " Now tourists will come from Pakistan with begging bowl."

Darshit Patel, a netizen, said: " Turkey begging Indians to come back and travel."

Several Travel Agencies Suspend Packages For Turkey

Several major travel agencies have announced their decision to suspend all packages to Turkey and Azerbaijan after they came out in support of Pakistan.

EaseMyTrip made the announcement and wrote on X: "Following the Pahalgam attack and escalating tensions between India & Pakistan, travellers are urged to stay aware."

"As Turkey & Azerbaijan have shown support for Pakistan, we strongly recommend visiting only if absolutely necessary.Stay informed. Travel responsibly," the post said.

Aligning with the sentiment of Indian customers in the current scenario, Cox & Kings'  director Karan Agarwal told Hindustan Times: "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," he said.

Ceasefire

India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire effective 5 pm on Saturday after four days of intense military exchanges following Operation Sindoor, which was undertaken to strike terror bases in Pakistan and PoK in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

(Note: IBNS did not independently verify the authenticity of the letter)