19.05.2025 10:20
Turkey's support for Pakistan regarding the Kashmir issue has greatly angered India. If Turkey, which imports $6.4 billion worth of goods from this country, responds in kind to India's boycott movement targeting Turkish products and the tourism sector, the party that will suffer the most will be India.
Turkey's support for Pakistan due to the Kashmir issue has been met with reaction in political and social circles in New Delhi. As cancellations in tourism began, a ban was imposed on Çelebi, which operates all operations at Mumbai Airport, and collaborations in academic fields were also frozen. India, not slowing down, has recently targeted Turkish export products. However, India is not among Turkey's major partners in trade and tourism.
ONLY 0.5% OF TOTAL EXPORTS
In 2024, Turkey exported $1.3 billion worth of goods and services to India, while importing $6.4 billion. Only 0.5% of our country's total exports of $261.9 billion last year were made to India. India accounted for only 2% of Turkey's imports.
"INDIA WILL BE HARMED BY THE BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN"
According to Yeni Şafak's report, export unions emphasize that they have the power to immediately compensate for potential losses from alternative markets, stating that India will be harmed by the boycott campaign. Export circles say, "Although the figures are not very large, if we are already selling one, we are buying six from India. If Turkey responds to India on the basis of reciprocity, things will turn around. Our external deficit of around $5 billion with India will improve. Because Turkey can replace many products it imports from India with domestic production or meet them from alternative markets."
NUMBER OF TOURISTS REMAINS LIMITED TO 330,000
It is claimed that the fastest impact of the boycott campaign against Turkey in Indian public opinion is felt in the tourism sector. While Indian tour operators state that there have been serious cancellations in trips to Turkey, representatives of the Turkish tourism sector approach this situation quite calmly and cautiously. While Turkey hosted 62.2 million tourists in 2024, the number of visitors coming from India for vacation remained limited to 330,000.