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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.)

Tackling Biomedical Waste, Made in India

While machines like Srjanam promise the future, NGOs like Enviro-Vigil have quietly ensured safer present-day practices.

In my previous article, I discussed the technologies hospitals use to safely treat biomedical waste — from microwaves and hydroclaves to autoclaves — each with its own strengths and limitations. While these systems have played an important role globally, questions of cost, scalability, and accessibility remain central challenges for Indian healthcare facilities. Building on that discussion, this week I turn to some exciting new developments and success stories in biomedical waste management closer to home.


One important driver of innovation in this field has been the Make in India initiative, which has also left its mark on biomedical waste management. In February 2025, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, inaugurated Srjanam—India’s first indigenously developed automated biomedical waste treatment plant, or rig, at AIIMS, New Delhi.


This innovative and environmentally friendly technology has been developed by CSIR–NIIST (National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram). It represents a significant step forward in the sustainable management of biomedical waste. The Srjanam rig can disinfect pathogenic waste, such as blood, urine, sputum, and laboratory disposables, without relying on costly, energy-intensive incinerators. Remarkably, it also leaves behind a pleasant fragrance, masking the otherwise noxious odours of toxic waste.


Once validated, the technology will be ready for large-scale deployment, pending approval from the relevant authorities.


Managing Thane’s Hospital Waste: How Enviro-Vigil’s Common Biomedical Waste Facility Became a Success Story

While Srjanam represents the future of cutting-edge biomedical waste management, equally inspiring are grassroots efforts that have quietly but effectively tackled the problem for years. One such example comes from Thane, where the NGO Enviro-Vigil has pioneered community-driven solutions.


Before concluding this series on hospital waste management, I would like to highlight the sustained efforts of a Thane-based NGO, Enviro-Vigil (Paryavaran Dakshata Mandal), which has been managing the city’s hospital waste for nearly two decades.


Enviro-Vigil was originally founded in the 1990s by a group of industrialists from Navi Mumbai. For reasons of their own, they later entrusted the organisation to us so that its environmental activities could continue. In 1998–99, Prof. Walavalkar and I, from Bandodkar Science College, Thane, together with Dr Vikas Hajirnis, a medical practitioner serving the poor in Chendani Koliwada, assumed responsibility for carrying the work forward. We were later joined by Mr Ravi Kadam and Mr Prasad Date.


Our initial focus was on raising public awareness in Thane, particularly around household waste management. Around this time, we also attended a two-day workshop on hospital solid waste management at Veer Jijamata Institute of Technology (VJTI) in Mumbai. The expert discussions and presentations proved invaluable for our later work.


By then, the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998, had come into effect, placing the responsibility for establishing common facilities for the collection and treatment of biomedical waste with urban local bodies. Accordingly, Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) was tasked with creating such a facility for all government and private hospitals within its jurisdiction.


In 2000, Mr K. P. Bakshi (IAS), then Commissioner of TMC, entrusted us with conducting a survey to quantify the category-wise biomedical waste generated across hospitals. Aware of our previous work in waste management, he placed confidence in us to carry out the task. With full sincerity and with the active involvement of our college students, we conducted a comprehensive survey and submitted an exhaustive report. Following this, Enviro-Vigil was formally awarded the project of establishing a common facility for the treatment and disposal of biomedical waste—a responsibility we undertook as an NGO.


Read more about this in my next article. Until then, have a nice weekend.


(The author is an environmentalist.)

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