India’s Tourism Pivot in Foreign Policy Sharpens with Türkiye

Emotionally Charged Indians Singe Türkiye, Azerbaijan with Boycott Calls

By MANISH ANAND

NEW DELHI, MAY 16, 2025 – India had sent ‘Operation Dost’ airborne within hours of devastating earthquakes in Türkiye in 2023. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan showed that he’s an ungrateful person, as Türkiye’s cargo planes arrived in Pakistan to possibly deliver consignments of drones.

India’s first set of punitive actions against Türkiye came for CelebiNAS, a Turkish ground-handling company. The Shiv Sena had given a 10-day ultimatum to Mumbai airport to cut ties with CelebiNAS.

Swadesh Jagran Manch (SJM), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the parent body of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has launched a street campaign against Türkiye. Confederation of All India Traders (CAIIT), a BJP-sympathiser, is also lending support to the Türkiye boycott calls.

In 2023, Türkiye pulled almost 3.3 lakh Indian visitors, a rise of 20.7% compared to the previous year. Bollywood, the Hindi film industry, in its bid to cut costs has been shooting in locales in Türkiye and Azerbaijan to make them popular among high-flying Indian tourists.

Azerbaijan saw a record-breaking 120,000 Indian tourists, marking a 100% increase from the previous year. A lack of direct flight may have dented appetite of Indian tourists to throng to China.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep in April last year had triggered a massive people-led boycott of Maldives. Until Modi touched the base with picturesque beaches of Lakshadweep, Indian tourists were bloating the coffers of Maldives. Muhamed Muizzu was ambitious with China hope to raise ‘Out India’ campaign.

Within a few months, Muizzu knew the strength of the Indian tourists. Male bent Muizzu’s anti-India spine. India and Maldives relations are now back on track with silent support of the Indian tourists.

Sri Lankan economy is normalizing with steady hands of the Indian tourists, who account for 20% of the total international travellers in the island nation. India-Sri Lanka ties have gained resilience after the ouster of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Indian tourists have been visiting the island nation in big numbers. Modi’s recent visit to Colombo further gave a boost to the cultural connect of India with Sri Lanka.

With the Indian economy expanding and the number of people with disposable income growing, world tourism now sees strong India imprints. Türkiye embassy in New Delhi strikes all the right notes to connect with the people.

But Erdogan shows in his actions that he is an incorrigible Islamist with thick radical shade. It’s true that drones of Türkiye were insignificant in making impacts in India-Pakistan conflicts. But a friend of an enemy is also an enemy. Government, thus, should accede to anger of the people and unleash full economic punitive actions against Türkiye, Azerbaijan, as well as China.

(This is an opinion piece; views expressed solely belong to the author)

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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