The increased diplomatic tension is making Indian tourists cancel planned visits to Turkey and Azerbaijan and instead travel to other suitable countries.

The rise in diplomatic tensions after Operation Sindoor has made many Indian tourists shy away from Turkey and Azerbaijan. Mutual support between the countries convinced many Indian tourists to swap Pakistan for other holiday locations this summer.

Diplomatically cutting off Turkey and Azerbaijan led to a 42% decrease in visa applications from those countries in just ten days. The areas most affected were group and family travel, as well as visits by solo travelers and couples. Many Indian tourists once preferred to visit Istanbul, Cappadocia and Baku, but now these places have suffered a sharp decrease in visitors.

People working in travel say Indian tourists are choosing Kazakhstan and other neutral countries like Armenia and Georgia, as known from Central Asia, over others because of their neutral politics. People are now considering Egypt and Jordan in place of Turkey, since they provide excellent culture without the same geopolitical risks.

Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia, as well as other Southeast Asian nations, say they see more interest in travel, despite the hot summer months. At the same time, Indian tourists are choosing other destinations because getting a European visa takes too long.

As more people are canceling plans, travel booking sites have been quick to recommend other spots suitable for travel. Geopolitical changes are now guiding Indian travelers because their decisions are motivated by diplomatic relationships.