‘No civic sense, poor infrastructure’: British Indian traveler’s harsh words about India trigger online outrage

A recent Reddit post by a British Indian tourist has sparked a heated debate on social media after three years of traveling in India, where the tourist called the country an “expensive dump” and criticized its infrastructure and facilities, claiming they were inferior to some of the less affluent countries.

The post has sparked debate about India’s appeal as a travel destination, with users weighing in on the state of tourism, with many also revisiting Javed Akhtar’s earlier comments, sharing videos of his insights on similar issues.

In a now-deleted Reddit post, the user detailed their three-year travel experience in India, which began at the height of the Covid pandemic. The user criticized various aspects of the country, stating: “Roads are leaking, infrastructure is crumbling, every other corner is covered with dirt and there is no civic wisdom. the poverty gap is staggering and growing. it’s more expensive to live.”

The post drew a backlash from many online who expressed similar disappointment and agreed with the harsh criticism.

Tourism social entrepreneur Anand Sarkar shared on X’s account, commenting:

Anand Sarkar highlighted the growing concerns raised by international partners and agents from countries such as the UK, EU, Australia and the US questioning critical issues such as “air quality, general hygiene and cleanliness , women’s safety, and chaotic internal logistics of disagreement.”

Sarkar explained that addressing these concerns is taking up much of the time needed to promote India as a travel destination. “There is no more optimism and mystery. every inbound visitor sees and reads news on social media.”

Discussing the impact on domestic tourism, Sarkar noted a shift in preferences, with Indians increasingly opting for international travel. “Middle and middle-class domestic tourists are being put off by high domestic airfares and expensive local logistics,” he noted, adding that Businesses catering to tourists with a daily budget below Rs 10,000 have seen their customer base disappear over the past three years.

Sarkar also expressed his displeasure with the policy makers, saying: Despite these challenges, he pointed out that inbound tourism has yet to recover to epidemic levels as reputational and pricing issues continue to hamper growth.

Meanwhile, an older video of Javed Akhtar discussing India’s untapped potential in tourism has resurfaced and gone viral, reigniting discussions on the topic.

In the revived video, Javed Akhtar highlights India’s rich cultural and historical heritage, mentioning iconic places like the Taj Mahal, the palaces of Rajasthan, the temples of South India, Ajanta Ellora and Khajuraho. “There are similar things here. we are born We have no respect for our heritage.” bearing in mind. “There are things like that here, broken. We don’t respect our heritage.”

The 79-year-old songwriter and screenwriter highlighted the untapped potential of tourism in India, stating: “If we have adequate infrastructures for tourism, this country will become rich only through tourism.” which means “If we had the proper infrastructure for tourism, this country could become rich from tourism alone.”