Indian Tourists behaviour exposed by and Indian Traveller

Have you ever wondered or been asked about the behaviour of Indian tourists?

As an Indian traveller, I have been questioned by my family, friends, and readers, “Hey, what do people think of us, Indians as travellers?

Are Indians considered among the best-mannered or ill-mannered tourists in the world?”

I enjoy writing about the people I encounter during my travels. This tale is about behavioural patterns of Indian tourists, based on my experiences both on and off the road.

I’ve faced racism abroad as a brown person, so I know stereotypes suck.

But, I’ve noticed some common traits among Indian tourists. This story talks about that without trying to label every Indian.

Here is a list of 10 different behaviours of Indian tourists you may encounter both in and outside of India

2. The Indian tourists who argue “they know the best”

I usually keep my travel plans under wraps.

Sharing goals makes them less likely to happen, a proven psychological fact.

However, with a 9-5 job, like many of you, I had to inform my boss about upcoming leaves.

Despite being entitled to annual or biannual leave, some of us have nosy bosses, right?

They want to know our plans for the next couple of weeks. In one such incident, I had to disclose my Egypt travel plans while applying for leave.

My boss insisted that I should visit Egypt by cruise like he did, even though I didn’t seek his opinion!

He claimed I’d benefit greatly if I consult him before planning any vacations so he can assist me in traveling better.

The truth is, he goes on vacations with famous tour organizers where all you need is money and zero planning – His wish, no complaints.

He is someone who sits in the bus, sees 4-5 places a day that tour managers shows and eat at Indian restaurants instead of experiencing local cuisines.

But he called himself “Travel Advisor” and giving me tips from his trip where he visited Egypt, Israel, and Jordan all 3 countries in just 10 days.

Why do some Indian travellers think their style of travel is superior and assume everyone else need their suggestions?

The joy of travel is in planning and experiencing it- I love the whole process.

He also claimed I waste time planning my trips and should go on an organised bus tour instead like he does.

3. Indian Honeymooners and their suggestions

Your honeymoon destination is your choice right? But have you ever been ambushed by other couples suggesting where you should go for your honeymoon?

Because we’ve been targets of such encounters.

UAE, Maldives, Switzerland, and particularly France are favorites among Indian honeymooners, followed by destinations like Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Greece, etc.

Goa, Manali, Andamans and Sikkim is also a beautiful honeymoon destinations in India and famous among Indian honeymooners.

When we were scrambling to gather the 50+ page documents for our Greece Schengen visa, someone I know closely came with unsolicited advice, “I went to the Maldives for my honeymoon.

You should also go there. Why bother with Greece and all.”

Another couple even claimed that a honeymoon must be to Switzerland, and they both found it weird that we chose Turkey instead of Switzerland.

Some Indians even be surprised/shocked when the other couples pick Indian destinations for Honeymoon as if Indian places aren’t meant for honeymooners!

For a honeymoon, some may choose Kyrgyzstan to wander in the green meadows by the blue lakesides at a cheaper price than Europe.

However, there is nothing wrong with driving to Masinagudi, the wildlife watching place near Mysore for a honeymoon – it is indeed awesome

Why are some of our folks fixated on only a few places for honeymoons? I understand some may have had a wonderful time in the place XYZ they went to and want us to experience the same.

But honestly, those who give suggestions without being asked tend to impose their thoughts mostly.

I would gladly take advice from folks who have traveled widely.

However, most of the time, these unsolicited suggestions come from those who travel occasionally.

Why does it give some Indians joy to impose their travel plans on others?

4. Indians who think Eurail Pass is a must for everyone

After our honeymoon Greece and Turkey for 24 days, my aunt’s friend questioned if we bought a Eurail pass.

Despite my explanation about Greece being a nation of islands and Eurail passes being impractical for short-term travelers, insisting it works only for at least 6 months in and around the EU, she was adamant not to trust me.

Even though she’d never been to Greece, she was insistent that we should’ve sought her advice before our trip.

She boasted about her extensive travel experience, proudly mentioning she’d been to about 20 countries across 3 continents, and even claimed, “I have seen the whole world.”

It made me wonder: why did she limit her idea of “seeing the world” to just those 20 countries?

I struggle to understand Indian tourists who boast about having seen the whole world after visiting only 10+ nations.

It seems they find joy in boasting about the number of countries they’ve been to or using grandiose phrases like “I have seen it all.”

5. Indian Tourists who are strangers give random suggestions

While waiting for paramotoring on Bentota beach, I got prepped as Ashrith clicked pictures.

Just before I flew, we overheard a Telugu-speaking group. Following my takeoff, Ashrith engaged in conversation with them.

Post our exhilarating paramotoring experience and a leisurely stroll on the beach accompanied by coconut water, Ashrith recounted his encounter with the Hyderabad banker hailing from a Telugu family.

After Ashrith and the banker introduced themselves, the man immediately said, “Can I suggest some places in Sri Lanka for you to visit?” Without Ashrith even asking for suggestions.

Ashrith politely refused. But the man insisted on suggesting Indian food places we must try in Colombo and other unwanted informations.

What leads some Indians to assume others need their advice?

Not every Indian does it – I’ve met a few who travel extensively yet only offer advice when asked. Take my cousin’s friend, Dr. Gayathri, for example – they’re my go-to travelers.

6. Indian Tourists fondness of combining 3-4 countries within a week

Some locals got wind of my two-week trip to Thailand with Mom. And this dude I know, over 60, labeled me a “knowledge-light person.”

He was taken aback, thinking two weeks in Thailand is overkill.

He, comfortably sits in a tour bus from some big company while travelling/ But he suggested I should’ve consulted him. Apparently, I could’ve squeezed in Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam in just 15 days!

Dad often hands me the phone during random chats with friends – Does your dad too?

In one such episode, I had this unexpected chat with my dad’s friend. She’s my age and wasn’t thrilled about my 2-week Thailand trip. Insisted I should’ve gone to Singapore. Didn’t say why, just kinda bummed.

When I grunted in annoyance, she goes, “No time to change your plans now.

But book your return via Singapore from Thailand. So that you can see Changi Airport at least.” Acting like it’s our final trip before I die, no chance for Singapore again.

My friend who spent 12 days travelling with her family in France received similar bash from her colleagues

They told her she could have covered Rome, Zurich, Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels in 10 days so they she would have got to cover 5 countries in 12 days – As if each of these countries are just 1sqkm wide.

Why some Indians feel that the other should visit the same country as they have done?

What is that urge to see 10 countries in 10 days? What is the point of ticking numbers?

7. Indian Tourists who claim India is the best

Sure, Indian food is incredibly diverse and delicious with a vast array of vegetarian options, thanks to over 35% of the population being vegetarian and the abundance of tropical produce and spices.

But it’s a bit much to claim that the rest of the world lacks food altogether.

I had this interesting encounter in gorgeous Salzburg’s riverside where an Indian couple approached my mom and me.

The guy, a non-vegetarian, complained about not finding good food during his short trip to Austria.

He even said, “Apart from India, forget about good food; there exists no food.” I and mom were stunned – Austria’s vegan and vegetarian options were plenty.

We didn’t have to hunt for an Indian restaurant to get veg food.

Many local Austrian restaurants served veg food and vegetarian version of their local food. And there was this non-vegetarian guy who was struggling to get food in Austria!

Just to feel good about our own nation, why do some of us put other nations entirely down in our opinions?

8. Indian tourists who are parents

In Iran, a lady asked why I wasn’t a mother, realizing it’s not just an Indian mentality. Indians, however, excel in giving parenting tips.

A friend in Luxembourg, hiking with his 6-year-old, used to greet Indian tourists joyfully until comments like “Don’t torture your son by hiking” made them stop.

Parenting varies; hiking is a wonderful way for kids to be outdoors and active unless unwell or unable to walk.

My best friend took her 7yr old daughter to Ladakh and she was called “careless parent” by a few – Turned out her daughter did absolutely fine in the higher altitude. In Fact the kid enjoyed playing with snow to infinity.

Are we Indians over-caring parents?

If one wants to nurture their kid protected in their arms forever – let them. But why do such Indian parents want to enforce their idea of “perfect parenting” on others?

9. Indian tourists Justifying their bad manners

India is truly a miracle with 8 major religions, 22 official languages, and hundreds of cultures, making it the most diverse country in the world.

While I admire the colours and diversity, unfortunately, we’ve adopted some ill-mannered habits like excessive honking and being late, often blaming it on traffic.

Indian tourists are notorious for not being on time in foreign countries – And some of us take pride in it!

Not being punctual can’t be part of one’s tradition.

There are often signs saying “Do not touch,” in historical places.

But Indian tourists have a habit of touching everything to check the material.

My friend from Luxembourg witnessed a group of Gujarati Indian tourists being asked to leave the Madrid palace in Spain for touching every silk curtain.

On their way out, they were justifying their behaviour, saying, “This is who we are. And this is how Indian travelers behave. These Spanish people act as if they are the only ones who have silk curtains.“

10. Elderly Indian tourists whose children reside and work overseas

It was my mother’s first visit to the castle. And it was to Neuschwanstein. Standing on Marienbrucke with 100 other tourists didn’t bother us, as the Bavarian landscape surrounding the fairytale castle was epic.

Being a Malayalam movie admirer, I couldn’t help but overhear chats from a group of Malayalis.

My mom and I smiled at them, and the conversation began.

The parents are from Kottayam, near Kochi, on their annual visit to their kids in Austria.

They said, they were touring “Full Europe” in two weeks. The kids work for a foreign MNC, just like my brother, my husband, my eight cousins and million other Indian folks.

After checking out our travels, the father poured a barrage of suggestions, “You should have come to Europe in winter.

We’ve been in Austria since February. Innsbruck is beautiful in winter. Why did you come now?

Wasn’t there anyone to guide you? Isn’t there anyone in your family settled in Europe?”

However, the lady took the opportunity to share parenting advice with my mom, “You should have made your kids join good colleges like we did.

So that they could also join good companies and settle in Europe. Now are your kids are stuck in India with some call center job?”

Okay – Innsbruck to India’s college, the couple judged my entire family’s educational qualifications within 5 minutes of conversation.

The Summary

What does the world think of Indian tourists?

I often have chats with my hosts to get their take on India and Indian tourists. Initially, they rave about yoga, Indian herbal remedies, lively streets, and our cuisine.

But as we relax with a drink or Shisha, they start dishing out the not-so-great stuff about Indian travelers, but always in a classy way.

Plus, I’ve done my homework to understand Indian tourists’ behaviour better.

I agree with some of those points, but not every Indian tourist fits that mould. With our huge population of 1.43 billion, India sends out all kinds of tourists – the good, the not-so-good, and the troublemakers.

What does this indicate?

Indian tourists behaviour often revolves around having a constant urge to suggest to others.

This behaviour may be rooted in either narcissism or its opposite – instances when individuals feel inferior about themselves and try to feel better by putting others down.

The inclination to offer unsolicited advice can be associated with various psychological factors, including:

1. A desire for control
2. A need to be helpful
3. A need for validation

Instead of experiencing the true joy of traveling, many Indian tourists travel to show off.

This might be the case for many other nationalities as well. However, all these behaviours have dampened my buzz to greet my own people in foreign land.

I avoid talking to Indian travellers on the road because I don’t want to listen to some random suggestions (rather call it judgemental statements) by random stranger while travelling.

Despite living in a diverse country, I can’t understand why it’s difficult for Indian tourists to grasp that there are all kinds of traveling, and it’s a personal choice.

It isn’t just foreign land – We give advice/judge others state wise also!

How to deal with the unwanted suggestions?

These unsolicited advice for me have reduced as I travelled more. Especially after having started blogging.

Still it causes some kind of stress to me – I am working on this. Plus whenever some people randomly ask me “Why haven’t you been to xyz, you must go there.”

I reply : “Oh I don’t have money. XYZ is super expensive for us. We can’t afford.”

Nosy advisors can’t say anything when you say you don’t have money. If not this, I walk away or keep silent. There is no point in arguing with someone who thinks they know it all.

Which type of Indian travelers behave with “Unsolicited Advice”?

I can say that Indian tourists above the age of 50 are the ones who give me unsolicited advice. It doesn’t mean that the young or middle-aged crowd doesn’t do it.

There have been incidents where folks of my own age, out of the blue, called to check with me on some architectural details and said, “Hey, you should go to Spain, why haven’t you yet?”

Before we suggest somebody something we must ask ourselves

“Did this person ask for my suggestion; Or Am I advising them just to show them that I know better than you and feel good about myself?

I totally get the excitement of traveling for the first time, and I love to hear their experiences.

However, I have met very few first-timers who don’t narrate their experiences but say, “I went to XYZ.You haven’t been there right. You have wasted your time. You must have to XYZ like me instead of going to Iran.”

I am not a perfect traveller. But neither do I give suggestions to random folks I meet on how to travel.

So we, Indians must stop suggesting randomly and judging other Indian travellers we meet on road or at a Party. We should all feel good when we meet our own people on foreign land – not walk away. Hope we improve!

Have you observed or been a victim of such behaviour among Indian tourists? If you aren’t Indian, which of these behavioural traits are common among your nationality? Let me know in the comment section below.