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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 Plastic Persists: It’s All in the Chemistry

Plastic pollution has two faces: careless human behaviour and the stubborn chemistry of the material itself.

As I mentioned in my last article, while speaking at the ‘Beat the Plastic Pollution’ seminar, one participant asked how discarded plastic actually pollutes the environment. The answer, I explained, lies on two levels. The first is simple and immediate: our everyday habits of careless disposal—throwing plastic on streets, into drains, water bodies, or open land. This behaviour contaminates soil, air, and water, chokes wildlife, blocks natural drainage systems, and turns public spaces into dumping grounds. This behavioural aspect, rooted in awareness and responsibility, was discussed in detail during that session.


The second answer, however, goes far deeper and is far more complex. It is linked to the very chemical nature of plastics, the enormous volume of waste being generated, their slow degradation, and the toxic substances they release into the environment over time. This is the aspect we now need to examine closely. Let us explore these factors one by one.


As we have learnt before, the average consumer comes into daily contact with all kinds of plastic materials. Most of these plastics are derived from petroleum and can be moulded, cast, spun, or applied as coatings. They are everywhere around us—in packaging, clothing, kitchenware, electronics, construction materials, and countless everyday products.


We have also learnt that plastic is made up of long chains of molecules, arranged in a seemingly endless series of interconnected links. This structure gives plastic its strength, durability, and flexibility. However, it is this very same structure that makes plastic so resistant to breakdown once it is discarded.


In contrast, natural polymers such as rubber and silk are also used and thrown away in large quantities. Yet, these “plastics” made by nature itself have not been blamed for environmental pollution. The reason is simple: they do not persist in the environment for long periods. They degrade or break down naturally. In other words, they are biodegradable and return safely to natural cycles.


Synthetic plastics, however, are very different. Due to their complex chemical composition, most of them are largely non-biodegradable. Not only do they fail to break down easily, but they also resist almost all natural processes of decomposition. As a result, they can remain in the environment for hundreds of years, accumulating steadily with every passing decade.


Another major problem lies in the manner in which plastics are disposed of. A large portion of plastic products—especially lightweight, single-use items and packaging—are not properly collected. In fact, such products account for nearly 65 per cent of all plastics produced. Instead of being placed in containers for transport to landfills, recycling centres, or incinerators, they are often discarded carelessly right where their usefulness ends.


They are dropped on the ground, thrown out of stationary or moving cars, buses, or train windows, heaped onto already overflowing dustbins, or simply carried away by a gust of wind. The moment this happens, they begin to pollute the environment. What starts as “just one wrapper” quickly becomes part of a much larger problem.


And sadly, we do not spare even the sea. Consider a ferry ride from the Gateway of India to Alibag or the Gharapuri Caves. During the journey, it is common to see people feeding seagulls with food packed in multilayered plastic pouches and then throwing those empty pouches directly into the water. The sea becomes a dumping ground, right before our eyes.


Nor are our forests and protected areas safe. Forests, wildlife sanctuaries, grasslands, wetlands, and lakes are all increasingly littered with plastic waste. Even the most remote places have not been spared. Plastic has reached Mount Everest, too, carried there by human activity and tourism.


As we shall learn later, the plastic that litters our roads, parks, and public places does not stay there. It is washed into nearby gutters and drainage systems, eventually flowing into rivers and finally into the seas and oceans. What we throw away locally becomes a global problem.


Thank goodness aeroplane windows cannot be opened. Otherwise…! The thought itself is frightening.


Indeed, landscapes littered with plastic packaging have become a common sight in many parts of the world. Illegal dumping and overflowing waste containers further worsen the situation. Plastic pollution today is not just an environmental issue; it is a reflection of how casually we treat our surroundings.


More on this next week. Till then, have a nice weekend!


(The writer is an environmentalist. Views personal.)

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