India, you’re getting played. And it is time to grow a spine. Baku, that gaudy Caspian wannabe-Vegas, has been your go-to for corporate conferences, dealer shindigs, and touristy photo-ops. It just took a few precision strikes on Pakistan to discover that Azerbaijan’s been strutting around, arm-in-arm with that terrorist state, your geopolitical equivalent of a neighbour who steals your morning milk bottle and newspaper. If you are still booking flights to their overpriced hotels, wake up! It’s time to boycott Baku’s shiny shallowness and send your travel money to places that don’t spit in your chai — like Greece, Bulgaria, or Serbia.
You need a bird’s eye on what you all have wasted on Azerbaijan all along? Well, let me tell you. You’ve been dumping cash into their economy — 250,000 of you schlepped there in 2024, tossing like $308 million into their greasy paws. That’s INR 4,000 crore, as Harsh Goenka rightly hollered.
For what? To fund a regime that high-fives Islamabad while you’re dodging their proxies’ bullets in Kashmir? It is not just politics anymore; this time it has gotten personal. Those in the corporate, if you send your C-suites or your dealers, or your agents and their families to Azerbaijan again – you would be that wimp who asks the bully to punch him harder. New India expects you to show some damn self-respect. Boycott them; starve their wallets.
Greece
Now, as a travel buff, let me share my two paisa knowledge about why Greece, Bulgaria or Serbia aren’t just destinations; they’re middle fingers to Azerbaijan’s betrayal. Greece – hands down – makes your beloved Baku look like a mid-profile strip mall with grand delusions. Athens is a city that’s been flipping off empires since the times of Mahabharata – she has kept the Parthenon as her representative to challenge time itself. Need beaches? Santorini’s cliffs and Crete’s shores make Baku’s waterfront look like a stagnant puddle. Corporate gigs? Greece has venues from Thessaloniki’s slick conference halls to Mykonos’s resorts that scream “we’ve got your back.” No Pakistan-love here — Greece is too busy sipping ouzo and minding its own business. Your dealers will be toasting you with retsina, not sulking in Baku’s overpriced bars. Oh, and visas? Greece consulate doesn’t make you jump through hoops like a circus poodle the way American consulate expects you to, during visa interviews. Indian tourist numbers spiked 30% last year. Get on board.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s the scrappy cousin you didn’t know you needed. Even if you are not the one to sample those marvellous horse-riding trails of the Balkan, Sofia alone has got more soul in one cobblestone than Baku’s got in its whole skyline, blending medieval swagger with old, Roman bones. Plovdiv, older than dirt, laughs at Azerbaijan’s “history” tours. Mountains? Rila’s peaks make you feel like you’re punching through the sky. Black Sea beaches? They’re cheap and don’t come with a side of geopolitical vomit. Bulgaria’s tourism folks can do with some Indian money, and the hotels and conference spots there won’t make your CFO cry. No Pakistan cheerleading either; just good wine and a “live and let live” vibe. Your retreats will feel like a heist compared to Baku’s wallet-gouging.
Serbia
Then there’s Serbia, the badass you’ve been ignoring. Belgrade’s a city that parties like it’s dodging a firing squad, with a Danube waterfront that makes Baku’s look like a ditch. Planet Edit calls Serbia the most underrated cycling destination in Europe. Considering you are not the kind that likes pedalling away perched on an uncomfortable leather contraption, the country has a line of fortresses, vineyards, and a vibe that says, “Life’s tough, but we are not done yet!” Serbia’s been cozying up to India — trade deals, and cultural swaps… but most of all — none of Pakistan’s garbage. Visa-on-arrival for you lot is like a bear hug from the Balkans. Leisure or corporate travel, you will love the rakija-fueled nights and venues that don’t cost a kidney. Indian visitors jumped 20% last year. Don’t be the idiot who misses out.
The boycott’s already rolling. EaseMyTrip’s Prashant Pitti says bookings to Azerbaijan are down 30%, with cancellations spiking 250%. MakeMyTrip’s seeing the same. Cox & Kings, Ixigo—they’re all pulling the plug. Hell, even your fruit vendor is ditching Turkish apples. This isn’t a whisper; it’s a roar. But don’t just cancel Baku — redirect your cash to places that don’t treat you like a doormat. Greece’s islands, Bulgaria’s peaks, Serbia’s grit — they’re not just prettier; they’re prouder.
Screw Baku!
Baku had become a lazy habit, a quick hop mostly for your corporate dog-and-pony shows. But habits are for suckers. Azerbaijan’s made its choice — let them choke on it. Book Greece, Bulgaria, or Serbia. Plan those conferences or those horse-trails. If you are just a tourist, walk along the Danube, shop at Mykonos, marvel at the Acropolis. Show the world India doesn’t just growl; it bites. Jai Hind; and screw Baku!
