Does India discriminate against foreign tourists? No, we treat all of them badly

If you think India likes foreigners, go read the Foreigners Act of 1946. True, this was originally enacted during World War II and perfected in 1962. But since the 1946 statute continues without major amendments, the mindset continues to be one of distrusting foreigners.

Here is a sample of what we would like foreigners to do. Orders may be issued ‘‘requiring him to reside in a particular place, imposing any restrictions on his movements, requiring him to furnish such proof of his identity and to report such particulars to such authority in such manner and at such time and place as may be prescribed or specified, requiring him to allow his photograph and finger impressions to be taken and to furnish specimens of his handwriting and signature to such authority and at such time and place as may be prescribed or specified, requiring him to submit himself to such medical examination by such authority and at such time and place as may be prescribed or specified, prohibiting him from association with persons of a prescribed or specified description, prohibiting him from engaging in activities of a prescribed or specified description, prohibiting him from using or possessing prescribed or specified articles, otherwise regulating his conduct in any such particular as may be prescribed or specified.’’

Tourism and finance ministries can scream from the rooftops. But India doesn’t want foreigners. Have you driven down to the international airport in New Delhi? There are welcome signs along the road. More precisely, along the central verge. Watch out next time and you will find the signs face the wrong way. That is, you are welcomed when you leave the country. Not when you arrive.

From what one can make out, the visa-on-arrival scheme has to be scrapped not only because of xenophobia. GIAN is also involved. You need a special desk for the scheme. What will happen in Mumbai is unclear. But in Delhi (the scheme was to be launched in these two cities), ITDC (duty free shops), customs and the Airports Authority of India are squabbling about the desk’s location. There is no space. I have never seen anyone buy anything from these two shops on arrival — one upstairs and one downstairs. (The disputed one is the one downstairs). Why not junk this shop?

The X-ray machine used for hand luggage also contributes to the space problem. I have never understood what customs looks for through this X-ray process. Laptops and cellular phone handsets? Of course, GIAN strictly observes national treatment. There is no discrimination against foreigners. Everyone is treated badly.

There have been marginal improvements, perhaps thanks to the GIAN campaign. The MTNL internet terminals work now. It is too much to ask for seating arrangements. You have to stand. It is too much to ask for terminals at the right level. You not only have to stand, you have to stoop. And one of these new terminals is tucked in upstairs, near the lounges and completely in the dark. As you have gathered, these are not for use. They are ornamental, like statues and fish in aquariums.

There are also some new shops before check-in. Oriental Insurance has a booth that sells insurance coupons (sic) for insurance up to Rs 20 lacks (sic). Naturally unmanned. There is an AAI facilitation counter. Also unmanned. An infant lobby that no infant will venture into. The only signs of activity are in a new boutique and a ‘‘concessionaire’’ that sells Indian tea and tobacco. Technically, the use of the term ‘‘concessionaire’’ is correct. But I wonder who thought of such a quaint expression.

Let’s not be uncharitable to AAI. Other countries, including Nepal, levy a Passenger Service Charge. This implies a quid pro quo and the suggestion that the money will be used for passenger services. In India, we levy a Foreign Travel Tax, not only suggesting no quid pro quo, but also hinting that foreign travel is discouraged. Priorities are completely different. Hence AAI has no money.

When travelling out of Delhi, have you noticed a mural by Husain on the evolution of aviation? Chances are you haven’t. It can’t be seen easily. It is high above your head, hidden by the low ceiling. And depending on which immigration counter you use, you can only see half the mural. AAI has no money for proper display. And whatever money it has, must be used for employees.

On an Indian Airlines flight to Bangkok, I counted nine employees behind check-in counters. All assisting with loading baggage on conveyor belts and subsequent identification. But that is after check-in opens. Before check-in opens, they are hanging around, smoking bidis (no one objects or fines them) and scratching their crotches. The uniforms, when worn, fit badly and are not clean. The bidi stubs go on the floor.

The return flight from Bangkok was also on Indian Airlines, which should make it comparable. The Airports Authority of Thailand employees performed the same function. The uniforms were neat and pressed. Before check-in opened, they sat and sipped Coke. Empty containers went into bins. And Indian Airlines managed with only two such employees in Bangkok, unlike nine in India.

No matter. India is a labour surplus country and we must adopt labour intensive techniques to encourage employment generation.

Every time we have a policy on something, we accomplish the opposite of what is intended. Let’s have a National Tourism Policy by all means. That’s the best way of keeping the tourists out.

(This article originally appeared in The Financial Express)