For years, Turkey emerged as a favourite destination for Indian weddings, offering scenic venues, luxurious resorts, and seamless hospitality that blended Eastern charm with Western amenities. However, the vibrant cross-border celebrations are now facing an unexpected halt.
Operation Sindoor Sparks Exit of Indian Weddings
Tensions escalated after Turkey publicly backed Pakistan in the wake of India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’, sparking calls for a boycott from Indian families and wedding planners. The shift has led to widespread cancellations of Indian weddings previously scheduled in Turkey.
“Indian wedding travellers contribute over $140 million annually to Turkey’s tourism economy, and the impact of this shift is seismic,” said Nikhil Mahajan, Senior Representative at Kestone Utsav, speaking to the Financial Express.
Turkey’s Rise as a Preferred Wedding Spot
With venues ranging from Istanbul’s regal palaces to Bodrum’s coastal beauty, Turkey became a hotspot for Indian destination weddings that offered grandeur at a relatively moderate price. In 2024 alone, the country hosted 50 elaborate Indian weddings, with average spends around $3 million and some events going up to $8 million.
These weddings often featured celebrity performances, luxury stays, and high-end experiences for up to 500 guests. The minimum cost for a 100-guest Indian wedding in Turkey was around €350,000 (approximately $385,000), far surpassing the typical Turkish wedding spend of $1,600–$5,400.
From just 13 Indian weddings in 2018, the number surged nearly 300 percent to 50 in 2024, generating nearly $150 million in revenue last year alone.
Financial Blow and Vendor Losses Loom
As many as 2,000 bookings were reportedly cancelled in May 2025, and 30 of the 50 Indian weddings scheduled for the year are now uncertain. Given each Indian wedding typically brings in about $3 million, the projected loss could exceed $90 million.
The cancellations go beyond financial losses. Indian weddings create jobs for hundreds of local vendors—florists, chefs, transporters, photographers—and significantly boost Turkey’s reputation as a global wedding destination.
“These weddings featured celebrities and business elites, offering marketing value that money can’t buy,” Mahajan emphasised.
Peak Wedding Season in Jeopardy
With 60 percent of Indian weddings occurring between May and December, the ongoing boycott comes at a crucial time. Turkey risks losing its most lucrative clientele at the peak of wedding season.
Shift to Other Destinations Underway
Indian families are now exploring alternatives. “Families [are] increasingly exploring alternative international locations like Italy and the UAE,” said Mahajan. “Simultaneously, there’s a strong resurgence in demand for Indian destinations such as Udaipur, Jaipur, Goa, and Kerala, places that offer grandeur, accessibility, and cultural resonance.”
This pivot reflects changing preferences focused on safety, travel ease, and deeper cultural connections.
Broader Tourism Faces Ripple Effects
Turkey’s tourism industry, which earned $61.1 billion in 2024, is feeling the pressure. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 3,30,000 Indians visited Turkey last year, a sharp rise from 1,19,503 in 2014.
However, boycott calls for both Turkey and Azerbaijan are gaining ground, especially as both nations have voiced support for Pakistan. Indian tourists are now rethinking travel plans.
Govind Gaur, CEO of travel firm WanderOn, told Moneycontrol, “Over 50 per cent drop in bookings is expected from India to Azerbaijan and Turkey. India is one of the biggest markets after China for the destinations.”
Gaur added, “I see a much larger impact as compared to the Maldives. Baku or Azerbaijan is on travellers’ minds because of Indian tourists. Last year, they had the highest number of people travelling to Azerbaijan from India. There won’t be any new bookings and this is peak season time for them. Turkish Airlines will also see a significant impact because they are already boycotting the airline.”
Bollywood Joins the Boycott Movement
The wedding and tourism boycott may soon extend to entertainment. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has urged Indian filmmakers to avoid shooting in Turkey.
In a statement, FWICE said, “We therefore appeal to all production houses, line producers, actors, directors, and crew members across the Indian film fraternity to stand in solidarity with the nation and boycott Turkey as a location for film shoots until such time that the country revisits its diplomatic stance and aligns with principles of mutual respect and non-interference.”
