India has issued a travel advisory against visiting Turkey in view of the situation in the region following the Turkish offensive on Syria over the past fortnight, amid a growing strain in bilateral relations over Kashmir.

The government said the advisory was in response to queries from Indian nationals on travelling to Turkey during this period.

“Although there have been no reports of the untoward incident in the country so far involving Indian nationals, travellers are requested to exercise utmost caution while travelling to Turkey. Those requiring assistance may get in touch with the Indian Mission/Posts through the following helpline numbers,” said the travel advisory that was posted on the website of the Indian embassy in Ankara.

Voyager’s World, a portal that offers “insights” on Indian travel trade, says that Turkey has emerged as a popular destination for Indian travellers across categories, be it leisure travel, destination weddings or official meetings.

According to data provided by the Turkish Tourism Board (TTB) in India, Turkey registered a 56 per cent increase in the number of Indian tourist arrivals in the first half of the year in comparison to the same period last year, hosting 130,000 Indian visitors. The TTB had been expecting to host around 250,000 Indian tourists by the end of 2019.