RPG Group chairman Harsh Goenka’s criticism of poor public behaviour by travellers from India has revived a wider debate on civic discipline, cultural expression and the country’s image abroad, after he recalled seeing a Swiss hotel display rules meant only for guests from India.
Goenka said he was “appalled” when he came across the notice at a hotel in Gstaad, Switzerland. The instructions reportedly asked guests from India not to take food from the breakfast buffet for later use, not to use hotel cutlery for private food brought from outside, and to avoid loud conversations in corridors, balconies and other shared spaces. His comments gained traction after videos circulated showing groups performing garba at airports, restaurants and other public areas, prompting sharply divided reactions online.
The industrialist linked the Swiss hotel episode to a broader pattern of behaviour that, in his view, undermines public respect for travellers from India. He said videos of garba in restaurants, loud exchanges at airports and aircraft cabins being treated like picnic spots reflected a need for stronger civic habits. He also referred to an episode at Davos where a businessman allegedly played Punjabi music at high volume in a club and described it as “soft power”, though others present found it disruptive.
The debate intensified after a video from Vietnam showed tourists performing garba near a parked aircraft on an airport tarmac. The clip drew criticism because tarmac areas are regulated spaces where movement, noise and crowding are usually subject to strict safety rules. Some social media users defended the group, saying the dance reflected cultural pride and harmless celebration. Others argued that airports, aircraft cabins and hotel corridors were not appropriate venues for such displays, particularly when they inconvenience other travellers or breach security protocols.
Goenka’s intervention has also raised questions about discrimination. Many users said any hotel notice framed specifically for one nationality was offensive and risked reinforcing stereotypes. Others said the sharper issue was not the wording of the Swiss notice but the conduct that may have prompted such rules. The discussion has therefore moved beyond one hotel and one set of videos, touching on how travellers represent their country in shared international spaces.
India’s outbound travel market has expanded rapidly, with more families, business travellers and young tourists visiting Europe, Southeast Asia and the Gulf. Greater mobility has also brought greater scrutiny. Public behaviour that may pass unnoticed in familiar settings can attract criticism abroad, especially in airports, hotels, restaurants and tourist landmarks where rules are tightly managed and cultural expectations differ.
The garba videos have become a focal point because the dance carries strong cultural and festive associations, especially during Navratri. Supporters say public performances can create warmth, visibility and soft power when done with permission and sensitivity. Critics say the problem is not garba itself, but the assumption that any public space can be converted into a stage without considering location, safety, consent or local norms.
Travel etiquette specialists generally distinguish between cultural expression and disruption. A group dance at a permitted public festival, hotel event or designated cultural venue is viewed differently from a performance in an airport security zone or a crowded restaurant. The same distinction applies to music, food, photography and group celebrations. The issue is less about nationality than about shared civic expectations.
Goenka’s comments also reflect a familiar tension within India’s expanding middle-class travel culture. Tourism has become more accessible, social media has encouraged performative travel, and viral videos now reward spectacle. At the same time, international travel demands awareness of rules on noise, cleanliness, queuing, food waste and use of public facilities. Small acts of carelessness can harden into broad stereotypes when amplified online.
The controversy has drawn comparisons with countries where public discipline is often treated as part of national identity. Goenka cited Japan as an example of courtesy and civic sense earning global admiration. That comparison struck a chord with users who argued that international respect is built not only through economic growth, cultural confidence or diaspora success, but also through everyday conduct in public places.
The reaction has not been one-sided. Some users objected to what they saw as self-shaming commentary that unfairly singles out travellers from India while ignoring poor conduct by tourists from other countries. They argued that noisy groups, buffet misuse and public disorder are not unique to any nationality. Others said criticism should target specific behaviour rather than create sweeping judgments about citizens of one country.
