Anyone who has travelled a lot will have their own pet peeves, especially when it comes to fellow travellers. If you’ve travelled outside India, you’ll begin to notice certain stereotypes of tourists. Sometimes, these stereotypes are defined by their place of origin. Sometimes, you yourself are the stereotype.

Tourist stereotypes can vary widely by country or region, shaped by cultural norms, societal perceptions, and popular media portrayals. American tourists are often stereotyped for their casual attire, enthusiasm for exploration, and tendency to speak loudly in public places. Chinese tourists are frequently seen as avid shoppers, especially for luxury goods, and are known for travelling in large tour groups. Indian tourists are commonly characterised by their love for selfies, their preference for vegetarian cuisine, and their fondness for bargaining.

The charm of international travel is that you get to observe and connect with different cultures. As long as no one is harmed and the local culture and people are respected, these quirks can be excused.

However, sometimes there is utter disregard for the places people visit. In this post, I want to talk about the Indian domestic traveller. From littering to being loud and unruly, the actions of a few individuals often leave a trail of frustration for their fellow travellers. Here are some of my pet peeves:

Littering: It really frustrates me when I see people do this. Whether it’s leaving behind plastic bottles or discarding food wrappers, the impact is significant and lasting. Not only does littering spoil the natural beauty of the place you are visiting, but it also poses serious environmental and health hazards for both wildlife and local communities. And a lack of dustbins is not the case here. 

I remember going to a beautiful beach on Andaman Island to view the sunrise. People came early in the morning to admire the pristine beach and enjoy nature’s bounty. Most of them had from their juice boxes or plastic water bottles as they watched the sun rise, then left them right at the beach as they walked back. There were dustbins just 10 feet away, but they didn’t bother using them.

Noise Pollution: Another common thing I’ve noticed is how loud people are, especially in places where people have come to enjoy the tranquillity. The utter disregard for others’ enjoyment is maddening. On wildlife safari trails or nature spots, there will always be at least one group that spoils the experience for everyone there.

Vandalism: So many places and objects that were accessible to the public have had to be cordoned off because some people couldn’t keep their hands off of them. The Hampi chariot now has an ugly rope barrier because there were people who tried to move it. Some sections in the Hall of Mirrors in Jaipur are cordoned off because people kept trying to steal the mirror pieces! And that’s why we can’t have nice things.

Inappropriate Attire: This I’ve noticed especially in public swimming pools of high-end hotels and resorts. People get in the pool in their regular underwear or just cotton shorts and tees. Most do not even bother to rinse before entering the pool. I’ve even seen babies in the pool with regular diapers. People staying in these places can afford a set of swimwear but they just disregard basic hygiene and etiquette. 

Another inappropriate clothing choice is wearing heels on a trek, but that is more of a you problem than a me problem, so I’ll leave it at that.

Insensitive or Irresponsible Behaviour: From taking casual pictures in prison cells where Indian freedom fighters were tortured, to flouting safety rules and climbing over fences, people will do anything to get a picture they can float over social media.

Wildlife Disturbance: There are so many instances when I’ve had to stop myself from lashing out at an adult telling their child to scream louder so that the animal in a caged setting will react. Other instances include throwing pebbles or food items to tease wildlife or even trying to get closer to them. Who will be blamed when the wild animal reacts?

On our recent trip to Mahabaleshwar, my husband was quietly taking a picture of a tree snake that was relaxing on a branch. An entitled man came and shook the branch to get the snake to move more! Not only could it have been dangerous to provoke the snake, but there was absolutely no need to make it move. Everything is not in place to entertain you!

Women’s Safety: There are plenty of instances where women who travel without male company have complained of being followed or harassed by men. I had some men commenting and sneaking pictures of me and my mom when I was travelling with my family—husband, child, and parents! When we noticed, my husband had to step in and make them delete the pictures, but there would’ve been others we didn’t know about.

I feel we Indians often struggle with a sense of ownership when it comes to public property. This is evident in various aspects of daily life, from littering in public spaces to vandalism of public infrastructure. 

The lack of ownership stems from a complex interplay of cultural, social, and economic factors, including inadequate civic education and a perception of public property as belonging to no one in particular. 

Additionally, overcrowding in urban areas and limited access to basic amenities contribute to a sense of detachment from public spaces. 

Hopefully, at some point, we will address this issue by raising awareness about the importance of preserving public property, strengthening civic engagement and responsibility, and investing in infrastructure maintenance and improvement initiatives.