• Source:JND
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Amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, various online booking platforms on Friday announced suspension of new travel offerings to countries, including Turkey and Azerbaijan for their "support" to Pakistan and advised customers to avoid "non-essential" travel to these destinations, while urging Indians to exercise "utmost caution" before planning trips to sensitive regions.

Similar concerns were raised by the Indian online travel booking platforms when three Maldivian ministers criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. That time too, Indian travellers cancelled their trips to Male following a massive social media trend, "Boycott Maldives". This forced the Maldivian government to distance itself from the bizarre remarks and subsequently dismissed the trio.

Although this time, there are no such calls from the travel booking sites, CEOs of top companies have appealed to refrain from visiting Turkey and Azerbaijan unless it's an emergency.

Pause all new travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkey: Cox & Kings

Cox & Kings said it has decided to temporarily pause all new travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkey. "In light of recent developments, we have decided to pause all new travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey. This decision is driven by our commitment to uphold principles that matter deeply to us and the people of our country. We also advise Indian travellers to exercise discretion and avoid any non-essential travel to these destinations until there is greater clarity and alignment in the broader geopolitical environment," said Karan Agarwal, Director, Cox & Kings.

"Travel Advisory - Following the Pahalgam attack and escalating tensions between India & Pakistan, travellers are urged to stay aware. As Turkey & Azerbaijan have shown support for Pakistan, we strongly recommend visiting only if absolutely necessary," EaseMyTrip said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday evening.

EaseMyTrip Founder and Chairman Nishant Pitti also took to X, saying he was "deeply concerned" by the recent developments and advising all its customers to exercise utmost caution and stay updated on official travel advisories before planning trips to sensitive regions.

Travomint said the company has suspended the sale of all travel packages to Turkey and Azerbaijan to support Indians' call for boycotting these two countries. "Due to the escalating tensions with Pakistan and countries like Turkey and Azerbaijan supporting it, we at Travomint have taken a firm and responsible stand. We have decided to support the Indians' call for boycotting Turkey and Azerbaijan. With immediate effect, Travomint has suspended the sale of all travel packages to these countries," Travomint Chairman and CEO Alok K Singh said in a statement.

No cancellation fee

In addition to this, he said, no cancellation fees will be charged on existing bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan. Emergency flight bookings will be available in case of any emergency or urgent need, Singh said.

Meanwhile, Vice President of Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI) and Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) - HRAWI spokesperson Pradeep Shetty shared that there have been cancellations for hotels in states including Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, among others. "There are cancellations... We are observing the situation closely," he told the news agency PTI.

India's Operation Sindoor

India on Wednesday carried out strikes on nine sites in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan, marking its deepest strikes inside Pakistan in decades, in retaliation for a deadly terrorist attack two weeks before. Thereafter, Pakistan attempted to unleash drones and missiles at Indian military targets in more than a dozen cities and towns, many of them home to air force bases. The Indian Army said the attacks were "effectively repulsed".

What Turkey said 

Turkey urged India and Pakistan to act with common sense amid the military escalation between them, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday, saying India's latest military action created the risk of an "all-out war". In a statement, the ministry reiterated its support for Pakistan's call for an investigation into the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Later in the day, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to convey his solidarity, the Turkish presidency said. During the call, Erdogan told Sharif that Turkey supported what he called Pakistan's "calm and restrained policies" in the crisis, his office said in a statement. Erdogan also said he found "appropriate" Islamabad's call for an investigation into an Islamist militant attack that triggered the crisis. 

(With inputs from agency)

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