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By:

Naresh Kamath

5 November 2024 at 5:30:38 am

Indian Tourists Need a Reputation Reset

India has long taken pride in the philosophy of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ - the belief that guests deserve warmth, respect and dignity. It is an idea deeply woven into the country’s cultural imagination, often been projected as a defining Indian value. As millions of Indians travel overseas every year, the conduct of a small but highly visible section of Indian tourists is increasingly shaping how India itself is perceived abroad. The issue is not about a single incident or a handful of viral...

Indian Tourists Need a Reputation Reset

India has long taken pride in the philosophy of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ - the belief that guests deserve warmth, respect and dignity. It is an idea deeply woven into the country’s cultural imagination, often been projected as a defining Indian value. As millions of Indians travel overseas every year, the conduct of a small but highly visible section of Indian tourists is increasingly shaping how India itself is perceived abroad. The issue is not about a single incident or a handful of viral videos but a pattern that is drawing notice from hotels, tourism operators and local authorities across the world. The debate gained fresh momentum after reports emerged of a Swiss hotel issuing a notice specifically addressed to Indian guests. The advisory reportedly requested guests not to pack food from breakfast buffets for later consumption and reminded them to maintain silence in corridors and balconies. Hotels routinely issue guidelines. But when a particular nationality becomes the subject of a specific advisory, it inevitably raises larger questions about perception. “It is a sorry state of affairs. Indians, especially in groups, are displaying atrocious behaviour. This was anyway bound to happen,” says Subhash Motwani, founder of Namaste Tourism. Embarrassing Incidents Whether the notice was justified is another separate matter. The question is why such perceptions are emerging in the first place. Recent months have seen several incidents involving Indian tourists gain traction on social media. One widely circulated video showed travellers performing garba on an airport tarmac in Vietnam. Garba is among India’s most vibrant cultural traditions and a source of immense pride for millions. Yet airports are highly regulated spaces where safety protocols and discipline take precedence over celebration. The incident became symbolic of a larger problem. The rise of social media has encouraged some travellers to treat foreign destinations as stages for content creation. Public dancing, loud celebrations, disruptive behaviour and attention-seeking stunts may generate views and engagement online, but they can also leave lasting impressions on locals and fellow tourists. India is hardly the first country to confront such a challenge. During the 1950s and 1960s, American tourists acquired a reputation for arrogance abroad, giving rise to the phrase “Ugly American.” Britain spent decades dealing with the international embarrassment caused by football hooliganism. China faced similar concerns as outbound tourism surged during the early years of the twenty-first century. A nation’s image is shaped not just by its economic achievements and diplomatic influence but also by the behaviour of its citizens overseas. India today finds itself in a similar situation. Indian tourists are now among the most visible traveller groups across Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. This is, in many ways, a remarkable success story. However, with visibility comes responsibility. Hospitality professionals across destinations frequently point to recurring concerns. Excessive noise, queue-jumping, disregard for local regulations, overcrowding hotel rooms and attempts to bypass established rules through jugaad are among the complaints often cited. Collectively, repeated experiences can create lasting perceptions. The most revealing aspect of the debate is that Indian travellers often display exemplary discipline in countries known for strict law enforcement. In destinations such as Singapore, the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, compliance with rules is generally high. Complaints tend to emerge more frequently in places perceived as relaxed or lenient. That suggests the challenge is not one of awareness. Most travellers understand the rules perfectly well. The problem is often a mindset that rules can be negotiated when consequences appear unlikely. Changing that mindset is far more important than introducing additional regulations or issuing fresh advisories. Every interaction at an airport, hotel, restaurant, tourist attraction or public transport system contributes to how a country is viewed. These everyday encounters often shape perceptions more powerfully than government campaigns or tourism advertisements. As India stakes its claim to a larger role in the world, its citizens must recognise that national prestige is shaped not only by economic achievements and diplomatic successes, but also by everyday behaviour abroad. The overwhelming majority of Indian tourists travel responsibly and leave behind positive impressions. Their conduct rarely becomes news because courtesy seldom goes viral. Yet a handful of highly visible incidents can overshadow thousands of positive experiences. The challenge is to encourage responsible travel and a greater awareness that behaviour abroad carries consequences beyond the individual. The conduct of Indian citizens overseas should reflect the confidence and values of a nation seeking not merely recognition but enduring respect. (The writer is a senior journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)

How Microplastics Travel from Krill to Whales

Dear readers, in continuation of my article from last week, let us once again follow the krill and understand not only how they consume their food but also how they end up ingesting microplastic particles along the way. But before we get to that, it is important to first understand the very basics of the aquatic food chain, because that is where this story truly begins.


In all kinds of aquatic ecosystems—whether oceans, seas, lakes, or rivers—there exist extremely tiny microscopic organisms known as phytoplankton. These are mostly microscopic algae, invisible to the naked eye, yet they play an enormous role in sustaining life in water. In fact, they form the very base or foundation of an intricate and interconnected aquatic food chain and food web.


Phytoplankton are remarkable because they can make their own food. Using water, carbon dioxide, and energy from sunlight, they produce nutrients through photosynthesis and, in the process, release oxygen into the environment. This makes them the primary “producers” in aquatic ecosystems, supplying both food and oxygen that support life at every higher level of the chain.


Countless marine and freshwater species, directly or indirectly, depend on these primary producers for survival. In simple terms, the aquatic food chain begins with phytoplankton. The next level consists of zooplankton, which include krill and other tiny drifting sea creatures. These are known as primary “consumers” because they feed on phytoplankton.


These zooplankton are then eaten by small fish and other marine animals, which become secondary consumers. In turn, they are preyed upon by larger fish and other predators, forming tertiary consumers and higher levels of the food chain. As we move upward, the food chain becomes longer, more complex, and more interconnected.


At the very top of this chain are the apex predators—whales, other marine mammals, seabirds, and, ultimately, we humans. And this is precisely why what happens at the microscopic level, beginning with phytoplankton and krill, matters so deeply to all life above them.


Microplastics and Whales

Microplastic particles, though tiny, can easily cling to the outer surface of phytoplankton and may even enter their cellular structure over time. In other words, a single algal cell can end up carrying multiple microplastic particles within or around it. What appears insignificant at the microscopic level becomes alarming when we look at what happens next in the food chain.


Let us do a simple calculation. A krill, shrimp, or any other small aquatic “consumer” can ingest thousands of these algal cells in a single feeding. If we assume that each algal cell carries around 50 microplastic particles, then a krill consuming 1,000 such cells in one go could take in as many as 50,000 microplastic particles. That is an astonishing number for such a tiny creature.


Now take the next step. Imagine a whale consuming 1,000 such krill, each already carrying 50,000 microplastic particles. In that one feeding event alone, the whale could potentially ingest 5 crore microplastic particles. And in reality, a whale can swallow thousands of krill at once. This gives us a disturbing glimpse into the sheer volume of microplastics that can enter the body of a single large marine animal in a very short span of time.


And this is not just about whales. There are thousands of species of fish and other marine animals that feed either directly on phytoplankton or on these primary consumers, such as krill. This means microplastics are steadily moving upward through the marine food chain, entering the bodies of species large and small.


No matter which animal is affected, microplastics are foreign intruders in the body and can pose a serious threat to overall health. In whales, dolphins, and other large marine mammals, these particles can cause internal damage by irritating or scratching the stomach lining, sometimes contributing to infection, poor nutrition, or even starvation. These mammals often consume prey that has already accumulated microplastics, especially from ocean depths between 50 and 250 metres, where concentrations are believed to be particularly high.


The danger does not end there. Plastics also act as carriers of harmful chemicals, transporting pollutants into the digestive systems of marine animals. These toxic substances can interfere with reproduction, weaken immunity, and disrupt normal biological functions. Studies have also found that microplastics can accumulate in blubber, the liver, the lungs, and other vital organs, making them not just an environmental pollutant but a serious and growing biological threat.


What about sea turtles, seabirds, and other marine animals? Let us explore that next Saturday. Till then, have a wonderful Easter weekend!


(The writer is an environmentalist. Views personal.)

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