India-Turkiye ties recovering after 2025 travel boycott, says Turkish envoy
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India-Turkiye ties are gradually recovering after a sharp decline in Indian tourist arrivals following geopolitical tensions in 2025, Turkiye’s Ambassador to India Ali Murat Ersoy has said.
In an interview, Ersoy said Turkiye had responded to the travel boycott by intensifying engagement with Indian travel companies and increasing direct communication with Indian media.
More than 3.3 lakh Indians visited Turkiye in 2024, while around 1.15 lakh travelled there between January and May 2025. However, arrivals fell sharply after tensions rose following Operation Sindoor and calls for a citizen-led boycott. Turkiye recorded just over 2 lakh Indian visitors for the entire year.
Ersoy said the recovery had continued in 2026, with nearly 1.2 lakh Indians visiting Turkiye between January and August. He said early indicators for the second half of the year suggested that the momentum was continuing.
The ambassador said the two countries should build a tourism relationship less vulnerable to geopolitical developments by strengthening direct ties with travellers, travel companies and the media.
He said tourism remained an important pillar of bilateral relations, alongside trade, education, cultural exchanges and some areas of defence-related cooperation. Turkish businesses are showing interest in construction, textiles and infrastructure, while Indian investment interest in Turkiye is also growing, he said.
On Turkiye’s visa costs, Ersoy acknowledged that the expense was a concern for Indian travellers. He said feedback on visa costs was being conveyed to Turkish authorities, although any change in fee structures would have to be decided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Turkiye is also promoting destinations beyond its established attractions, including Gaziantep for gastronomy, Mardin for heritage and architecture, and Trabzon and the Black Sea region for nature and highland tourism.
Ersoy said his priority during his tenure was to deepen trust and leave India-Turkiye relations “stronger, broader and more resilient” than he found them.