top of page

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.)

Plastics Deconstructed: The Big Five and the Seven Codes

While nearly all plastics are made from fossil fuels, their differences become clear only when we look at the seven RIC codes.

Dear Reader, it feels nice to take a journey down the ‘history lane’, and that is what I did over the past three weeks. In the first part, we began with Abeer’s vivid and haunting dream—a child’s gentle warning about the sorrow of our oceans.


In the second part, we traced plastics from their origins to their surprising rise as everyday companions in our homes. And in the third part, we explored how human ingenuity, driven by necessity and innovation, ushered in a new era of synthetic materials that transformed modern manufacturing.


So far, so good. Now, let us return to the present scenario and understand how this ‘wonder material’ is making life miserable not only for us humans but for all living beings on the planet. But before that, it will be worthwhile to learn the basics about plastics.


The big five

Almost 99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels. On the basis of composition, there are many different types of plastic. But practically almost 90% of all the plastics produced are of five major types, which are as follows:


Polyethylene (PE) accounts for 34.4% of global plastic production, followed by polypropylene (PP) at 24.2%, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) at 16.5%, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) at 7.7%, and polystyrene (PS) at 7.3%. Ethylene is a critical feedstock for the production of polyethylene, PVC, PET, and polystyrene—together representing about 65% of all plastics made by weight. Propylene, likewise, is the main raw material used to produce polypropylene.


Taken together, this means that most of the world’s plastics can be traced back to the product streams of just two industrial chemicals: ethylene and propylene. While not all fossil fuels are turned into plastic, virtually all plastics are derived from fossil fuels. This is further reinforced by the fact that the biggest companies in both sectors are integrated giants that produce fossil fuels as well as plastics.


Another key input, naphtha, comes directly from oil refining, and its production is concentrated among major oil companies with large refining capacities. If current trends in oil use and plastic manufacturing continue, plastics alone are projected to consume 20% of all oil produced by 2050. Understanding these industrial linkages is essential for addressing the global plastic pollution crisis and recognising the role that corporate actors play in driving it.


Plastics around us

Let us now take a closer look at the plastics we encounter in our daily lives. Plastics come in an astonishing range of shapes, sizes, and colours, and each variety serves a different purpose. To make sense of this diversity, they are grouped into specific categories based on their chemical composition, properties, and intended use.


For instance, certain types of plastic are sturdy and safe enough to be reused multiple times, while others are designed for single use because of the chemicals or additives they contain. Similarly, some plastics can be easily recycled and turned into new products, whereas others require careful handling and must be discarded in specialised ways.


RIC System: 7 Numbers

To make informed choices about the products we use every day, it is important to understand the different types of plastics, how they differ from one another, and the impact each type has on the environment. Plastics are broadly classified into seven major categories under the Resin Identification Code (RIC) system, with each type assigned a number from 1 to 7.


This number is usually printed or embossed on the product, placed inside a small triangle made of chasing arrows—something we often overlook. The next time you buy a bottle of drinking water, just turn it over and look at the base. You will notice the number 1 stamped inside that triangle, quietly telling you what kind of plastic the bottle is made of.


Curious to know what these numbers mean and how they guide recycling and disposal? Hold on to that curiosity until next Saturday. Untill then, have a wonderful weekend!


(The author is an environmentalist. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page