Indian Footfall In Turkey Dips Sharply In 2025 - What The Numbers Reveal

Turkey, a long-time favourite among Indian travellers, has witnessed a significant decline in tourist arrivals from India this year. The latest data from Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism reveals a sharp drop in Indian visitor numbers in June 2025. This downturn appears to reflect recent shifts in public sentiment and travel choices, even as the country remains a popular destination for global tourists. According to official data, only 24,250 Indian tourists visited Turkey in June 2025, a 36% drop compared to 38,307 visitors in June 2024. This decline follows a similar downward trend observed in May 2025. Data for this month shows that arrivals were down 24% year-on-year, with 31,659 Indians travelling to Turkey in May.

Also Read: Not Heading To Turkey Or Azerbaijan? These 5 Countries Have A Lot To Offer

The broader picture for the first half of 2025 (January to June) also shows a decline. A total of 139,215 Indian tourists visited during this period. This is a 15% reduction from 164,373 in the same time period last year. Indian travellers still make up only a small portion of Turkey's overall tourist base (they account for around 0.6% of all international arrivals). The country had seen growing interest from India in previous years, especially after the launch of direct flight connections. The sudden reversal in travel numbers indicates a marked shift in preference.

In April-May 2025, the events of the Pahalgam terror attack and the India-Pakistan conflict impacted Indians' travel decisions in several ways, which included calls to boycott Turkey as a tourist destination. Popular travel portals like MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip and Cleartrip voiced their support for this decision. Some of them later also reported notable drops in Turkey bookings on their respective sites.

Also Read: India Reopens E-Visas For Chinese Tourists. What It Means For Travel, Culture And Business