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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.)

Why is Feeding Seagulls Hazardous?

Updated: Mar 3, 2025

Seagulls

The recent picture of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in which he can be seen feeding gulls before attending the closing ceremony of Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj paves way for a brainstorming on what is good and what is bad for the digestive systems of these migratory birds. While it is not clear in the picture whether what exactly is being fed to these gulls, it is worth digging deep through the much-discussed periodic debate over what is appropriate to feed them, and what is not.


What are seagulls?

Seagulls are migratory birds that fly long distances to save themselves from harsh weather and also in search of fish for food. Specifically, Siberian seagulls come to Indian coastline between October to March and are seen in abundance from North to South. In fact, Mumbai's marine drive is the most sought-after spot for walkers who try to get a glimpse of these birds. Morning Walkers enthusiastically click pictures and feed them farsan and gathia. This has been a tradition for years together, and despite repeated awareness drives, people are still feeding packet food to these birds. Experts believe that packet food is extremely hazardous to Seagulls, or the food that we humans consume may or may not suitable for their health.


Is there a law prohibiting this in India?

Media reports highlight that in 2018 BNHS had requested the Maharashtra state environment department to ban the feeding of migratory birds in Mumbai and adjoining areas. An elderly morning walker Varsha Phadke spoke to the Perfect Voice highlighting, "Before lockdown or before the work on coastal road project began, there were officials formally deployed at marine drive to prohibit walkers from feeding these birds. But the efforts seem to be inconsistent as this season the practice has resumed with no concerned authority to officially object to feeding farsan to the birds. Apart from the health of the birds being deteriorated, the clean and picturesque marine drive is losing its charm as the gathia is left abandoned and the entire area is littered."


VJTI Engineer and retired BMC Official Mahesh Phadke told The Perfect Voice, "One of the obligatory duty of Municipal corporation is to protect the health of people through preventive measures. Accordingly, the caution signs are placed at various places to prevent people from health hazards due to pigeons. In spite of knowing the risk involved even educated people ignore the directions and continue to feed pigeons which endanger their own health. It is observed that, respiratory problems, lungs problems and asthma are proven hazards of feeding pigeons."


What PETA India says

"There is increased discussion and awareness against feeding wild animals with human food, but the situation becomes complex when we consider humans have cut down the animals’ natural forest homes forcing them into human areas. As natural habitats are turned into multistorey buildings and parking lots, pigeons like many animals, have been forced to adapt to their new surroundings. Just as we would show compassion to a hungry dog, so many do to a hungry pigeon. It would be ideal, however, to feed pigeons foods like greens, berries and fruits. Town planning must include forest protection. That is the key solution to issues involving wildlife."


What do Medical practitioners say?

Dr Sharad Ketkar (MBBS), GP from Kurla in Mumbai said, "Pigeons spread respiratory diseases. They have no utility value. In Singapore they kill pigeons as soon as they are spotted. Allergic asthama is on the rise because of pigeons".


Dr. Mandar Bapaye, Girgaon based Pediatrician said, "Pigeons are fed because of some religious beliefs. Health hazards are plenty. Both infectious and non-infectious lung diseases can affect both adults as well as children due to pigeons. From fungal infections to Fibrotic lung diseases, it also poses risk for those who has Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis. Ideally pigeons are built to hunt for their food but have lost their abilities due to easily available food. The pigeons over the years have become dominant bird species as far as the urban setting is concerned thus the gravity of causing illness is high."


The popular promenade of Marine Drive is littered with heaps of farsan every year between October and March. Yes, it spoils the entire experience of a healthy walk full of fresh air that defines the location. As far as the gut health of guls is concerned, there are mixed responses from the experts. The fact that farsan is still very regularly been fed to these birds despite these mixed reviews even in a city like Mumbai highlights the reality of extreme indiscipline and lack of respect for regulations and a complete indifference towards wellbeing of these migratory birds by the residents of this country and more so, of Mumbaikars.

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