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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.)

The Human Cost of Plastics

Plastic pollution is no longer just an environmental issue it is a growing public health concern.

Plastics are indispensable, as discussed earlier, yet they severely harm not only cows, bulls, wild animals, and sea creatures but also human health.


Plastic pollution poses health risks that start long before plastic becomes waste and persist throughout its entire life cycle. To clarify how plastics endanger human health, we must examine every stage of their life cycle.


As we have already learnt in the earlier articles in this series, almost 99% of plastic is produced using fossil fuels. The extraction of oil and gas, especially hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for natural gas, releases a wide range of toxic substances into the air and water, often in significant quantities.


More than 170 chemicals used in fracking to produce the main feedstocks for plastic are known to have harmful effects on human health. These include links to cancer, neurological damage, reproductive and developmental toxicity, impairment of the immune system, and several other serious concerns.


These toxins have direct and well-documented effects on the skin, eyes, and other sensory organs. They also affect the respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal systems, as well as the liver and brain.


The danger does not end there. During the processing of fossil fuels to make plastic resins and additives, carcinogenic and other highly toxic substances are released into the air. Exposure to these substances can lead to damage to the nervous system, reproductive and developmental problems, cancer, and even genetic impacts such as low birth weight.


Misuse of Plastic

Street vendors, small roadside shop owners, and security guards at various residential complexes are often seen carrying hot, boiling tea in small plastic bags. It is a common sight in many places, and one we hardly stop to think about.


The average temperature of that tea is about 60 degrees Celsius. At such temperatures, harmful compounds such as styrene and bisphenol A can leach from the polythene bag into the tea.


Regular exposure to these toxic chemicals is linked to endocrine disruption, a higher risk of cancer, and possible problems related to the immune system. In other words, what appears to be a harmless daily habit can slowly pose serious health risks over time.


This problem does not end there. We also often order food from restaurants, and it reaches our doorstep packed in plastic containers. This, too, can be harmful to our health, especially when the food is still steaming hot.


When hot food is stored in plastic containers, harmful chemicals from the plastic can leach into the food. As a result, a routine convenience that has become part of modern life may also be quietly adding to our exposure to toxic substances.


Microplastics and Nanoplastics

We encounter microplastics everywhere in trash, dust, fabrics, cosmetics, cleaning products, rain, seafood, fresh produce, table salt, and even in the air we breathe. They have become so widespread that avoiding them completely has become almost impossible.


Microplastics enter our lungs through the air we inhale while breathing. They also enter our digestive system through the food and water we consume. In fact, microplastics have already been detected inside the human body.


Once inside the body, these particles can be carried through the bloodstream to different organs. Microplastics have been found in the liver, kidneys, reproductive organs, and even in the brain and heart. In pregnant women, these particles can reach the developing foetus through the placenta. Even breast milk has been found to contain microplastics, raising serious concerns about exposure beginning at the earliest stages of life.


Microplastics smaller than 1 micrometre, known as nanoplastics, are of even greater concern. These tiny particles can actually enter cells and may interfere with how the cells function.


Extensive research is currently underway to understand exactly how these minute particles move from the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract into other organs and tissues. Scientists are still studying the full extent of the damage they may cause, but the growing evidence is already deeply worrying.


Are there any rules and regulations in place to control plastic waste? Of course, there are stringent rules and policies. I will discuss them in my next article. Till then, have

a great weekend.


(The writer is an environmentalist. Views personal.)

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