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.)

The Plastic Trail to the Sea

Plastic does not simply disappear at sea — it drifts, accumulates and returns to us through the food.

Dear readers, as we continue our trail, let us now follow the journey of plastic waste from our rivers into the oceans. A significant share of the plastic polluting the world’s seas originates from just 10 countries. Topping the list is the Philippines, which is estimated to dump between 356,371 and 360,000 metric tonnes of plastic into the ocean every year.


Shockingly, Mera Mahan Bharat stands in second place. India is estimated to release between 126,513 and 130,000 metric tonnes of plastic into the ocean annually. The remaining countries in this list of the top 10 contributors are Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Brazil, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Thailand.


Oceans Matter

Ocean plastic pollution is a global tragedy for our seas and marine life. It is among the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, affecting nearly 900 marine species — from millions upon millions of microscopic planktonic organisms to countless sea creatures such as shrimps, prawns, lobsters and shellfish, many of which eventually form part of the seafood we consume.


It also harms both small and large fish, as well as turtles, seabirds and marine mammals, including whales, dolphins, dugongs, seals, walruses and sea lions. Yet the damage does not stop with marine life alone. Plastic pollution also introduces toxic contaminants into the food chain, ultimately reaching humans as well.


The oceans are among the most vital ecosystems on Earth, sustaining human beings and countless other living organisms, both directly and indirectly. They provide food and livelihoods to millions of people across the world, and their importance extends far beyond seafood alone. Virtually all of the planet’s plants and animals depend, in one way or another, on the global water cycle — a system driven largely by the oceans. Through the movement of water, wind and weather, the oceans help create the stable climatic conditions needed to grow crops on land and support life across ecosystems.


Breath and Balance

The ocean’s upper layers are rich in plankton — tiny algae, bacteria, seagrasses and other organisms that carry out photosynthesis and release oxygen in the process. One microscopic species of bacteria, Prochlorococcus, is so abundant that scientists estimate it produces around 20 per cent of the Earth’s oxygen. In other words, every fifth breath we take may well come from the sea.


The oceans also regulate weather patterns, absorb excess heat and trap carbon dioxide, helping to moderate the effects of climate change. Coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass meadows and salt marshes, along with coral reefs and sand dunes, act as natural barriers that protect vulnerable communities from storm surges and coastal erosion.


Together, these and many other ecosystem services provide immense environmental, social and economic benefits. Yet plastic pollution is now emerging as one of the major threats that is steadily eroding the value of these services and undermining the life-support systems that oceans provide.


Plastic Gyres

More than half of all plastic waste is less dense than water, which means it remains afloat after entering the sea. Instead of settling to the seabed, it can travel across vast distances on the ocean’s surface.


The lighter and more buoyant plastics drift far from shore, carried by winds and powerful ocean currents. Over time, they are drawn into converging current systems and gradually swept into large offshore accumulation zones, where they gather in enormous quantities.


Scientists have identified five major plastic accumulation regions in the world’s oceans. These are formed within large oceanic gyres—vast circular systems of rotating currents that trap floating marine debris and create what are often described as enormous “garbage patches”.


The five major gyres are the North Pacific Gyre, the South Pacific Gyre, the North Atlantic Gyre, the South Atlantic Gyre and the Indian Ocean Gyre. More on this in my next article. Have a nice weekend!

(The author is an environmentalist. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page