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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.)

Petrodiplomacy, Indian Style

As geopolitical uncertainty reshapes energy markets, India is rediscovering Venezuela as a useful partner in a pragmatic search for energy security.

For much of the past decade, Venezuela occupied an awkward place in global diplomacy. Once one of the world’s richest oil producers, the South American nation became synonymous with economic collapse, hyperinflation, political turmoil and Western sanctions. While many countries kept their distance, India has never entirely severed its ties with Venezuela. Now, as global energy markets undergo another period of upheaval, New Delhi appears eager to renew a relationship that had languished in the shadows.


Acting President Delcy Rodríguez recent Indian visit signals a fresh attempt by both nations to revive a partnership built on mutual need. Venezuela possesses the world’s largest proven oil reserves; India is one of the world's fastest-growing consumers of energy. Yet the significance of the renewed engagement extends beyond crude oil cargoes and refinery contracts. It reflects broader changes in the global economy, the emergence of a more fragmented geopolitical order and India’s determination to diversify its strategic options.


Pressing Concerns

Energy remains the centrepiece of the relationship. India imports more than 85 percent of its crude oil requirements. For decades, the Middle East supplied the overwhelming majority of those imports. Yet repeated disruptions - from wars and sanctions to shipping crises and geopolitical rivalries - have underscored the risks of excessive dependence on any single region.


The lesson has become increasingly apparent since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. India responded by purchasing discounted Russian crude in unprecedented volumes, demonstrating both the flexibility and pragmatism of its energy policy. The same logic now applies to Venezuela. New Delhi is less interested in the politics of Caracas than in ensuring that its refineries have access to diverse and reliable sources of supply.


For Venezuela, the attraction is equally obvious. Years of sanctions and underinvestment have severely constrained the country’s oil industry. Production remains well below historical levels despite possessing vast reserves. India offers not merely a market for Venezuelan crude but also a source of investment, technical expertise and commercial engagement. In a world where traditional Western partners remain hesitant, Asian economies increasingly represent Venezuela’s best hope for economic recovery.


However, the relationship between the two countries goes beyond hydrocarbons. The discussions during Rodríguez’s visit highlighted a broader ambition. Both countries expressed interest in expanding cooperation in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, science and technology. Such diversification reflects a recognition that modern partnerships cannot rely indefinitely on a single commodity.


India’s pharmaceutical industry, among the largest in the world, could find opportunities in a country whose healthcare system has suffered years of neglect. Indian engineering firms and manufacturers may discover new markets if Venezuela succeeds in stabilising its economy. Likewise, Venezuelan mineral resources and agricultural potential offer possibilities beyond the energy sector.


Whether these ambitions materialise is another matter. Venezuela’s political uncertainty, weak institutions and volatile business environment continue to deter investors. International sanctions, though eased in some areas, remain a significant constraint. Indian firms are unlikely to commit substantial capital without greater confidence in the regulatory and political landscape.


Nevertheless, the renewed engagement fits comfortably within India’s broader diplomatic strategy. Under Narendra Modi, New Delhi has sought to deepen relations across Latin America, a region that was historically neglected by Indian policymakers. India's growing ties with countries such as Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago reflect a wider effort to expand its economic and diplomatic footprint beyond its traditional spheres of engagement.


This outreach is driven partly by economics and partly by geopolitics. As competition among major powers intensifies, countries across the Global South are seeking greater strategic autonomy. India has positioned itself as a leading voice in this emerging landscape, advocating a more multipolar international order in which developing countries enjoy greater influence.


Venezuela, despite its economic troubles, shares aspects of this worldview. Both governments frequently invoke the language of South-South cooperation, sovereign development and reform of international institutions. Such rhetoric can sometimes obscure differences in political systems and economic priorities. Yet it also provides a useful diplomatic framework for cooperation.


More importantly, the relationship illustrates how international politics is becoming increasingly transactional. The ideological divisions that once defined foreign policy are giving way to calculations based on resources, markets and strategic advantage. India maintains close ties with the United States while purchasing Russian oil. It deepens relations with Israel while supporting the Palestinian cause. Engagement with Venezuela belongs to the same tradition of pragmatic statecraft.


Can Venezuela provide a stable and predictable supply of crude oil? Will Indian companies increase their investments? Can cooperation in sectors such as technology, healthcare and manufacturing move beyond memoranda and ministerial statements?


Those questions remain unanswered. Yet the direction of travel is clear. India’s energy appetite will continue to grow for decades, while Venezuela remains eager to reconnect with major economies willing to engage despite political complications. The incentives on both sides are substantial.


Rodríguez’ visit forms part of a broader reordering of international relationships driven by energy security, economic necessity and geopolitical flexibility. For India, Venezuela is no longer merely a troubled state on the far side of the Atlantic. It is becoming a useful piece in a larger strategy designed to reduce vulnerabilities and expand options in an increasingly uncertain world.


(The writer is a foreign affairs expert. Views personal.)

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