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Journalism of Courage
An Indian travel vlogger who goes by the name Explorer Raja has stirred a debate online after opening up about his most unpleasant travel experience. Despite having explored 120 countries, he said the worst racism he faced was in Georgia, where he was even strip-searched at an airport.
Sharing his story in a viral video, Raja recalled his first trip in 2019. “I had everything, a visa, a booking, a connecting flight, but they still kept me waiting for four hours at the border without any explanation. When I was flying out to Paris, they couldn’t believe I was going to France. They even made me naked at the airport and checked everything,” he said.
Years later, he returned to Georgia with a passport filled with visas and stamps, hoping things would be different. But, according to him, the treatment remained the same. At immigration, he was met with disbelief. “The woman at the counter looked at my passport and asked, ‘What is this? Why are you here?’ When I told her I was a tourist, she said it was impossible for an Indian to be a tourist,” Raja recounted. He added that for Indians, entry is often easier only if they hold a US, Schengen, or Canadian visa.
Beyond the airport, Raja said the bias extended to everyday interactions. “It’s not just Immigration, even the locals are racist. One hundred twenty countries and only a few countries that upset me, and this is one of them,” he noted.
His account struck a chord online, prompting others to share their own experiences. Some agreed, calling Georgia a beautiful country with terrible locals, while others defended it, saying they had met kind people and never faced such hostility.
A user wrote, “100% felt the same way in Georgia. Beautiful country with terrible locals. I had a terrible experience at a money exchange and also in a few places where they would straight up ignore me for speaking Russian despite understanding me. Crossing the border and going into Chechnya and Dagestan you will meet brothers who absolutely love india and our people. Some of the best hospitality I received in my life just a couple hundred kilometres away. Much rather going back to Chechnya over Georgia.”
Another user commented, “We met the sweeeetest people in Georgia. travel experiences are so subjective my god! so sorry to hear this.”
A third person wrote, “Had a great time in georgia, very friendly people. Maybe its not them, its you.”
A fourth comment read, “Had similar experience with a Pakistani passport.Whrn I got my US passport suddenly treatment was different.”
