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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.)

India’s Plastic Waste: Systems Exist; Results Don’t

India has initiatives to tackle plastic waste. What it lacks is coordination, infrastructure and sustained public participation.

In continuation of my last article, let us explore a few more challenges India faces in managing its plastic waste.


Informal Waste Sector

In India, a significant portion of waste—particularly in urban areas—is managed by informal waste pickers. You may often have noticed small children and women sifting through heaps of roadside rubbish, drains, or overflowing bins to collect plastic bottles, polythene bags, wrappers, pouches, and similar items. Yet, because this work remains largely unorganised and outside any formal system, plastic waste collection is far less efficient than it ought to be.


As a society, we should show them the utmost respect and gratitude. Although they do this work to earn their daily bread, they play a crucial role in segregating waste and, in doing so, unknowingly serve both society and Mother Earth. In many neighbourhoods, they are the real first line of recycling. However, despite their significant contribution, their work remains unregulated and unsupported, with little access to safety gear, health protection, or even basic standards of dignity. This makes the process not only inefficient but also hazardous, exploitative and deeply dehumanising.


There is, without doubt, tremendous potential for strengthening waste management through the informal sector, especially if they are recognised, trained and integrated into municipal systems. However, at present, the process of collection and segregation remains fragmented, inconsistent and poorly coordinated.


Inefficient Recycling Systems

Some urban centres have introduced plastic recycling programmes, but the systems in place are often fragmented and ill-equipped to cope with the sheer volume of plastic waste being generated each day. A 2020 report noted that only around 60% of India’s plastic waste is collected, and barely 30% of it is recycled. As a result, large quantities of plastic continue to end up in landfills, clog drains and water bodies, or are simply incinerated—creating yet another set of environmental and health concerns.


A major challenge lies in dealing with certain categories of plastic—particularly multilayered plastic (MLP)—which cannot be recycled easily using conventional methods. MLP refers to packaging material that contains at least one layer of plastic as the primary component, combined with one or more layers of paper and aluminium foil, either as a laminate or as a co-extruded structure. Most companies favour MLP for packaging because it is lightweight, highly water-resistant, and reduces shipping volume. It also helps extend the shelf life of products such as fruit juices, sweets and namkeen, keeping them fresh for longer periods even at room temperature.


However, despite its commercial advantages and widespread use, recycling this type of packaging remains costly and technically difficult, precisely because of its multilayered composition. Separating the layers is complex, processing requires specialised infrastructure, and the economics of recycling often do not make it viable at scale.


Public Awareness and Participation

Despite the many government initiatives aimed at reducing plastic waste, public awareness about the importance of waste segregation, recycling and plastic reduction remains worryingly low. Many people still dispose of plastic carelessly, mixing it with wet waste or throwing it into open bins, drains and public spaces—thereby worsening the problem. (I had elaborated on this in one of my earlier articles in the series.) In addition, there is often little real incentive for individuals and businesses to cut down plastic consumption or actively participate in recycling programmes. Even where systems exist, participation is inconsistent and largely dependent on personal motivation rather than habit or enforcement.


The challenge of shifting consumer behaviour is further compounded by the fact that alternatives to plastic—such as eco-friendly packaging—are often more expensive and less easily available. For many households and small businesses, the cheaper option wins, even when they understand the long-term environmental cost. Convenience, affordability and accessibility still outweigh environmental considerations in everyday decision-making.


My friend’s granddaughter, Malika, who lives in Pune, has a strikingly clear perception of rag-pickers. Once, her grandmother asked her whether their regular ‘kacharewala’ (the household garbage collector) had turned up or not. Malika immediately retorted, “What kacharewala, grandmother… that person is not the kacharewala. We are, because we generate kachara (garbage).”


Will continue in the next week! Till then, have a great weekend!


 (The author is an environmentalist. Views personal.)

 


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