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Latest figures of Turkish tourism accessed by News18 show only 16,244 Indian tourists went to Turkey in July this year, compared to 31,659 in May. That is a nearly 50 per cent drop. Even comparing the year-on-year figures, the massive drop is clear. Against 16,244 Indian tourists landing up in Turkey this July, 28,875 went there in the same month last year. That is a 44% drop.<\/p>\n
Turkey\u2019s role was exposed in May with the discovery of Turkish-made drones being used by Pakistan against India during Operation Sindoor. Turkey also adopted a blatant diplomatic stance in favour of Pakistan. Since then, a \u201cBoycott Turkey” campaign has emerged in India.<\/p>\n
\nThis has had a visible impact, as the number of Indian tourists going to Turkey fell from 31,659 in May to 24,250 in June and now 16,244 in July. These three summer months are the top tourism months for Indians. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also gave a clear message in June when he visited Cyprus, and, along with President Nikos Christodoulides, he went to the historic centre of Nicosia, where they were given a guided tour along the United Nations ceasefire line, a symbol of the island\u2019s long-standing division. Christodoulides also showed PM Modi the mountainous region in northern Cyprus, which has remained under Turkish occupation since 1974.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Modi last month told Parliament that only three of the 193 member countries of the United Nations favoured Pakistan, while the remaining nations stood in India\u2019s support during Operation Sindoor. He was referring to Turkey, China, and Azerbaijan\u2014nations that have often stood by Islamabad on the international stage, including at the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The three countries had given statements in favour of Islamabad when the Indian armed forces carried out precision strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.<\/p>\n
Turkey\u2019s stance had prompted boycott calls in India, and travel portals like MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, and Cleartrip said they would not promote Turkish tourist packages.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sharp drop of nearly 50% in Indian tourism numbers to Turkey since May is not surprising. When a country openly sides with forces that challenge India\u2019s sovereignty, it cannot expect Indians to contribute to its economy. Today, Indian travellers are more conscious of where they spend their money. They prefer destinations that value India and Indians. If any foreign country wants Indian footfalls, it must respect our people and our country. This decline in Turkey\u2019s numbers is a wake-up call for all the foreign tourism boards. They cannot take us for granted. India is a global force, and respect for our nation is non-negotiable,” said Nishant Pitti, chairman and founder, EaseMyTrip.<\/p>\n
Even in its stance and statements after the Pahalgam terror strike, the Turkish government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has taken a full pro-Pakistan line. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir also visited Turkey to thank Erdo\u011fan for support during tensions with India during Operation Sindoor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n