According to the 2025 the New Indian Express report, Indian tourist are considered as one of the world’s worst tourist causing inconvenience with their arrogance, bad manners, lack of civic sense and public etiquettes. But what about how they treat and behave with visitors in their own country and what does ‘Incredible India’ truly has to offer.
“Incredible India” is the slogan endorsed by the government to promote tourism in India. The Incredible India campaign paints a picture of vibrant culture, ancient temples, and spicy street food. But let’s face it, sometimes India feels more like a chaotic circus that you didn’t sign up for. And that’s why tourists might want to think twice before booking a trip to India. India has a lot to offer, but there are also some serious hurdles that can turn your dream holiday into a coughing, haggling, dodging-scams nightmare.
First up, let’s talk about the air. Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Gurugram are basically competing for the world’s smokiest city award. According to a 2025 IQAir report, 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in India, with Delhi often stealing the crown as the most polluted capital globally, boasting an average PM2.5 concentration and recently the AQI declared as severe and hazardous in 2025. That’s like breathing in a sandstorm mixed with car exhaust.
Tourists often end up choking on smog so thick it feels like a personal attack on their lungs. That’s not air; it’s slow poison, with over 2.18 million deaths in India linked to air pollution annually, according to a report in The Hindu.
Now let’s wade into the sanitation situation, or lack thereof. India’s streets can feel like an obstacle course of garbage piles, open drains, and the occasional whiff of something you’d rather not identify. Despite India’s so-called economic boom, public spaces are often littered with overflowing bins, stray animals rummaging through trash, and, yes, open defecation. India isn’t just polluted; it’s a full-blown biohazard.
According to UNICEF estimates, poor sanitation costs India $189 billion, or 7.9% of India’s GDP, with millions of people practicing open defecation. Public restrooms? When you find one, which is a challenge in itself, they’re often so grim you’d rather cross your legs for the rest of the trip. The Swachh Bharat mission has tried to clean things up but the sanitation crisis still drags down India’s tourism appeal.
What about street food? Those vibrant stalls might look tempting, but they’re often a gamble with your stomach. Flies buzzing around uncovered ingredients, vendors using the same rag for everything, and water that’s probably not from a pristine spring. It’s a recipe for disaster. The risk of food poisoning famously known as “Delhi Belly”, or worse, like typhoid, is real. A 2025 Times of India report on health risks didn’t sugarcoat it. Unhygienic food prep is a major issue, especially for tourists unused to the microbial chaos. You might dream of spicy samosas, but honestly, one wrong bite could have you praying to the porcelain gods for days.
Then there’s the garbage problem. Picture this. You’re at a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ready to snap that perfect Instagram shot, and there’s a pile of plastic bottles and food wrappers photobombed into the frame.
The Ganges River, sacred to millions, is basically a floating landfill in some stretches, with sewage and debris clogging its waters. It’s not even a river anymore. It’s a challenge to science. It’s not just an eyesore; it’s a health hazard, with waterborne diseases lurking for anyone who gets too close. India’s garbage management is like a bad joke with no punchline.
Oh my god!! The traffic!!! Indian roads are like obstacle courses designed by Satan himself. Potholes that could swallow a scooter, cows just chilling in the middle of highways like they’re on vacation, and people driving like they’re playing a video game with no rules. You go to an average neighborhood in India, and you’re greeted by three things: noise, dust, and trash. Clean places in India are so rare they should be listed as tourist attractions. Even temples—yes, the temples are surrounded by plastic waste and overflowing garbage bins.
Now let’s get to the money grab. In India, tourists are often seen as walking ATMs, ripe for the picking. Taxi drivers, vendors, and even some ticket booths will hit you with prices that make your wallet cry. A rickshaw ride that costs a local Rs. 100 might suddenly be Rs. 500 for a tourist. Souvenirs? Triple the price.
It is an admitted fact that India’s tourism sector struggles with this, as foreigners are routinely overcharged. You didn’t come to India to haggle over a bottle of water, but here you are. And let’s not get started on the aggressive sales tactics. Street vendors and touts have a PhD in persistence, shoving trinkets in your face and refusing to hear no.
For female travellers, it’s even rougher. Staring, catcalling, and worse, harassment is a real issue. Even recently in 2025, the US State Department advisory warned about sexual assault at tourist sites, calling rape the fastest-growing crime in India. Women often feel like they’re on display, not on vacation. It’s not just uncomfortable. It’s a safety concern that makes India a hard pass for many.
Navigation is another headache. India’s infrastructure is like a puzzle designed by a madman. Trains are packed, buses are late, and roads are a free-for-all where traffic rules are more like suggestions. Poor transport infrastructure is a major hurdle for tourism. Taxis might take you on a scenic tour of nowhere to jack up the fare.
Finally, scams. Oh God, the scams. Fake tour guides, taxi scams, online scams, shoe cleaning scams, ear cleaning scams, counterfeit tickets, jewellery and gem scams, India’s got it all. Tourists are constantly targeted, with hotels and agents slipping in hidden fees or delivering subpar services. You’re not just travelling; you’re playing detective to avoid getting robbed and extorted. It’s like every corner has a con artist waiting to turn your adventure into a nightmare tale.
So why reconsider India? It’s not about hating the culture or the people. It’s about the reality on the ground. The choking smog, the filthy streets, the relentless hustling, and the safety concerns can make incredible India feel more like incredibly overwhelming.
Sure, the history and diversity are stunning, but when you’re coughing through a haze, dodging garbage, and haggling over every rupee, it’s hard to enjoy the view and have the moment as you imagined.
So the next time someone tells you that India is incredible, ask them to take a deep breath in Delhi’s pollution and maybe they’ll rethink about that “Incredible India” slogan. Because right now, the only things that are incredible in India are corruption, scammers, population and pollution.
Amid such irony, can Nagaland offer visitors and travellers a better experience, or will the government-subsidised 10-day Hornbill Festival remain the only option Nagaland can offer? Perhaps the Nagaland State Government should erect an epitaph for the Hornbill Festival in Kisama, similar to the World War II memorial in Kohima, reading: “When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your pleasure today, we gave our tomorrow’s comfort.”
It is time for the VIPs and high officials of Nagaland, with their cherished souvenirs and photographs with foreign diplomats and dignitaries after a comfortable ride in their SUVs, to reflect on the trail of dust they leave behind as a gift for the Naga public, who are left to choke on it daily. Like it or hate it, this is the brutal reality of Nagaland and incredible India. Kuknalim.
R. Francis Kikon
Naharbari, Dimapur
Thursday, November 13, 2025