Recent geopolitical developments, specifically Turkey and Azerbaijan's support for Pakistan following "Operation Sindoor," have dramatically altered Indian travel preferences, leading to significant holiday cancellations and a sharp decline in visa applications for these two nations. Atlys, a visa processing platform, reported a 42% drop in visa applications to Turkey and Azerbaijan, with a 60% surge in users abandoning the application process midway within 36 hours of the news. This marks a reversal from the first quarter of 2025, which saw a 64% rise in applications to these previously popular, affordable destinations. Group visa requests fell by nearly half, while solo and couple applications also saw declines.
This shift has spurred increased interest in alternative destinations. Countries like Kazakhstan, Egypt, Jordan, Georgia, and Armenia are now gaining traction. Southeast Asian nations such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, many offering visa-free entry for Indian citizens, are also seeing more enquiries, despite concerns about hot weather. Data from 2024 shows Armenia received 43,672 Indian visitors, Georgia 1.24 lakh, Egypt 1.5 lakh, and Jordan 70,000, indicating existing popularity that is now expected to grow further.
Conversely, Turkey hosted 3 lakh Indian tourists in 2024, and Azerbaijan 2.44 lakh; a significant portion of these numbers is now anticipated to divert to Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
While European countries offer cooler climates, they struggle to attract Indian tourists due to persistent issues with Schengen visa appointment availability, making travel practically impossible for the summer holiday season. Industry experts like Ajay Prakash of Nomad Travels see this as an opportunity for Schengen states to streamline their visa processing.
Some Indian travelers with non-refundable bookings are opting for familiar Southeast Asian alternatives like Thailand and Malaysia despite the heat. Meanwhile, those with flexible plans are either cancelling or seeking Schengen countries with faster visa dates. Travel booking portals have noted a drop in bookings and a rise in cancellations for Turkey and Azerbaijan, with some Indian travel service providers even ceasing to offer bookings or actively dissuading travel to these countries.
