In the wake of Turkey and Azerbaijan’s open support for Pakistan, despite their roles in cross-border terrorism and aggressive actions against India, EaseMyTrip Chairman Nishant Pitti has called on Indian citizens to reconsider their travel plans to these nations.
Pitti argued that travel should not be used to empower countries that do not stand with India.
“Travel is a powerful tool,” he said, urging citizens to spend their money in countries that respect India’s core values.
Pitti backed his appeal with figures showing the growing number of Indians visiting Turkey and Azerbaijan.
According to Pitti’s statement, 287,000 Indians visited Turkey last year, while 243,000 visited Azerbaijan.
He pointed out that tourism plays a significant role in the economies of these countries, contributing heavily to their GDP.
“Tourism drives their economy: In Turkey, tourism accounts for 12% of GDP and 10% of jobs. In Azerbaijan, it contributes 7.6% of GDP and 10% of employment,” Pitti explained.
He asked, “Should we promote the tourism and economy of countries that openly support Pakistan?”
Pitti further emphasised that every rupee spent abroad represents a ‘vote’ for the values that the destination country upholds.
He urged Indian tourists to direct their spending towards nations that honour Indian values and principles.
“Let us spend our money where our values are respected,” he said, concluding his appeal with a patriotic statement, ‘Jai Hind’.
Both Turkey and Azerbaijan have expressed strong support for Pakistan in recent months, even after Pakistan’s provocative actions, including its involvement in cross-border terrorism and aggression following the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people.
Indian armed forces retaliated on May 8 by striking Pakistan’s military infrastructure in response to the escalation, including drone incursions along the Line of Control.
In addition to its political support, Turkey has provided military arms to Pakistan.
Azerbaijan has echoed Pakistan’s stance on India-Pakistan tensions. Moreover, Turkey has backed Pakistan’s proposal for an international investigation into the Pahalgam terrorist attack, further strengthening their diplomatic ties.
On May 8, Pakistan attempted large-scale drone incursions across 36 locations from Leh to the Sir Creek region, likely aimed at testing India’s air defence systems and gathering intelligence.
Indian forces successfully shot down many of the drones using kinetic and non-kinetic methods.
Preliminary forensic reports suggest that the drones were likely of Turkish origin, linked to the Turkish-made ‘Asisgard Songar’ system.
India’s response included precise strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Pitti’s call for a travel boycott aligns with the broader discourse on India’s diplomatic and economic relations with countries supporting Pakistan.
His appeal adds a new dimension to how individuals can exercise their influence through responsible tourism.
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