Senior Odisha cadre IPS officer Arun Bothra (IPS:1996:OD)’s outburst on social media criticising Indian travellers’ conduct abroad has sparked an online storm. Bothra has warned that the disruptive behavior of Indian tourists abroad could eventually result in stricter visa policies for Indian citizens. Bothra, in his post on X, admonishes that carrying an Indian passport is not just a privilege but also a responsibility and that Indian travellers should respect local laws, maintain public decorum, and be mindful of how their actions reflect on their country.
Bothra is currently posted as Additional DGP, CID Crime, and Transport Commissioner under the Odisha government. He opines that those whose conduct harms India’s image abroad should face consequences, and in serious cases temporary restrictions on foreign travel could be considered a deterrent.
Bothra clarified his stand, saying his concern was practical rather than symbolic, and warned that repeated incidents could influence how host countries view Indian travellers and potentially affect future travel policies.
“What worries me is that because of such uncouth behaviour, visa rules are getting tougher for all Indians. Thailand is a recent example,” he writes.
Bothra does not stop here and goes on to express his concern over a growing number of viral videos showing Indians as desperate attention-seekers by engaging in bizarre activities at public spaces overseas, which he dubs “often for social media content.” According to him, such incidents can shape perceptions of Indian travellers and may contribute to tougher regulations for future visitors.
His remarks come amid the circulation of several videos showing groups of Indian tourists dancing or filming reels in public locations in countries including Vietnam and the US. The fact is this trend has triggered online discussion, with some users criticising such behaviour as disruptive and inconsiderate.
Such comments from a top-ranking bureaucrat have evoked mixed reactions, with some users agreeing that tourists should be more mindful of local norms, while others argued that isolated incidents should not be used to judge all Indian travellers.
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