India sends 35+ million tourists abroad annually—many first-time international travellers from tier-2 and tier-3 cities. They book Thailand holidays without understanding that hotel buffets work differently from wedding buffets back home. They arrive in Dubai unaware of strict cultural protocols. Yet there’s no mandatory pre-departure training for Indian tourists heading abroad. We prepare migrant workers brilliantly through the government’s PDOT programme, but leave leisure travellers completely unprepared.
On the other hand, Western organisations routinely provide cultural preparation for staff travelling to India. The training might be flawed, sometimes stereotypical—but the concept is sound: prepare people for cultural differences before they encounter them.
“Don’t drink tap water. Respect cows. Traffic is chaotic. Indians stand very close during conversations—don’t take it personally.”
My American colleague showed me the pre-departure briefing his company provided before his first India assignment. Twenty slides covering cultural norms to safety protocols. His Canadian friend received a similar orientation before her Mumbai posting. Both arrived expecting India exactly as their training described. Both were surprised: “India’s completely different! The training was so stereotypical.”
Before proposing tourist training, acknowledge what India already accomplishes: Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT) for migrant workers.
Launched in 2018 by the Ministry of External Affairs, PDOT prepares Indians emigrating to Gulf countries for employment. The statistics prove success:
PDOT achievements:
Why it matters: These workers—often from rural areas, first-time international travellers, with limited formal education—receive systematic preparation before departure. They learn cultural expectations, legal frameworks, employment rights, and safety protocols.
The result: Better-prepared workers face fewer exploitation issues, understand their rights, adapt more successfully, and represent India professionally abroad.
The question nobody’s asking: If India successfully provides pre-departure training for Indian tourists through PDOT for workers, why not tourists?
The numbers tell the story:
Indian outbound tourism growth:
This represents the fastest-growing outbound tourism market globally. But growth happened so rapidly that cultural preparation couldn’t keep pace.
The first-generation traveller reality: Manufacturing town residents taking their first flights to Europe. Parents who never left India are watching their children book Bali holidays. Grandparents who considered Delhi “foreign” are seeing grandchildren plan Thailand trips.
These travellers bring enthusiasm, spending power, and excitement—but often lack understanding of international hospitality expectations. Not because they’re “uncivilised” (offensive stereotype). Because nobody taught them.
PDOT proves systematic training works. Tourist visa applicants deserve the same preparation.
Migrant workers typically live in controlled environments—company accommodations, designated work sites, and limited public interaction. Their cultural adaptation happens gradually within structured settings.
Tourists operate differently:
One unprepared tourist group creates more negative impressions in one week than dozens of well-adapted workers create in months.
Hotels complain. Social media amplifies incidents. Stereotypes spread. India’s reputation suffers—not from workers who receive training, but from tourists who don’t.
Here’s what makes embassy-linked pre-departure training for Indian tourists feasible: visa applications already capture every data point needed.
Data embassies collect:
The algorithm could automatically flag: “24-year-old from Rajkot, first passport, Thailand tourist visa = Pre-Departure Training Required“
This isn’t new surveillance—it’s smart resource allocation using existing data. Just like PDOT targets specific worker categories, tourist training can target first-time travellers who need preparation most.
Indian embassies in popular tourist destinations—Thailand, UAE, Singapore, UK—handle constant complaints about Indian tourist behaviour. Hotels complain. Local authorities complain. Embassy staff spend hours managing situations that pre-departure training for Indian tourists could prevent.
Current scenario:
With mandatory tourist training:
PDOT already demonstrates this works for workers. Extending the model to tourists represents proactive reputation management.
Hotels prejudge Indian guests based on past negative experiences. Immigration officers scrutinise Indian passport holders intensely. Some establishments refuse Indian clients outright.
Some discrimination stems from racism. But a significant portion stems from legitimate bad experiences with unprepared Indian tourists behaving inappropriately due to cultural ignorance.
Pre-departure training for Indian tourists won’t eliminate racist discrimination—but it removes legitimate justification. Hotels can’t claim “Indians don’t follow rules” when Indians arrive already briefed.
PDOT protects workers from exploitation. Tourist training would protect travellers from discrimination. Same principle, different application.
PDOT offers 8-hour comprehensive training for workers. Tourist training can be shorter—30-40 minutes—because:
Delivery mechanism: Mandatory video orientation
Implementation: Accessible through the visa application portal. Cannot proceed with visa processing until completion is verified.
Why video works:
Completion verification:
PDOT proves Indians respond well to structured orientation. Apply the same successful formula to tourists.
Key messages:
Tone: Empowering, not patronising. Practical, not preachy.
Buffet etiquette:
Hotel quiet hours:
Pool behaviour:
Lift etiquette:
Queue discipline:
Tipping culture:
For Thailand (example):
Legal warnings:
Scam awareness:
Embassy contact information:
Travel insurance importance:
Handling discrimination:
Cultural misunderstandings:
Why Thailand:
Target demographic:
Duration: 6-month pilot
Success metrics:
PDOT infrastructure can support this. Training centres already exist. Digital platform is expandable. Expertise available.
Data collection:
Adjustments based on feedback:
PDOT underwent a similar refinement process. Apply lessons learned to tourist training.
If the Thailand pilot is successful:
Phase-3A: Other Southeast Asian countries
Phase-3B: Middle East
Phase-3C: Europe (Schengen visas)
Phase-3D: Eventually, all international destinations
PDOT started with the Gulf countries and could expand similarly. Proven model, proven expansion strategy.
How to ensure compliance without bureaucracy:
Takes 30-40 minutes. Cannot bypass. Simple verification.
For repeat travellers:
PDOT uses a similar certificate system successfully. The infrastructure has already proven itself.
Current narrative: “India’s PDOT programme successfully prepares migrant workers”
With tourist training: “India—the only country systematically preparing ALL international travellers, not just workers. Global responsible tourism leader.”
Global headlines:
This positions India as a responsible global citizen applying proven success to broader challenges.
PDOT already enhances India’s soft power by demonstrating care for emigrant workers. Extending to tourists amplifies this message:
What it demonstrates:
Better than alternatives:
Training approach = constructive, respectful, effective.
Messaging opportunities:
Appeals across the spectrum:
Leverages existing PDOT success story. Not a new experiment—proven expansion.
PDOT provides:
Tourist training needs:
Cost comparison:
Government programmes face implementation challenges. PDOT has already overcome these:
Challenges PDOT solved:
Tourist training inherits these solutions. Not starting from zero—building on a proven foundation.
PDOT involves the Ministry of External Affairs in coordination with state governments, training centres, and embassies. This coordination mechanism exists and functions.
Tourist training uses the same channels:
Bureaucratic pathways already established. Reduces red tape and delays.
Response: We already train workers through PDOT—are they more in need than tourists? Both groups benefit from cultural preparation. Every country provides travel guidance. This isn’t unique to India or insulting. It’s extending an existing successful programme.
Also, Training protects you from embarrassing situations. Learn hotel norms from a friendly video or an angry hotel manager at midnight?
Reality check: PDOT successfully trains 115,000+ workers annually with mandatory completion. Digital certificate system prevents workarounds. Visa officers simply verify: certificate present? Yes/no.
Infrastructure proven. An enforcement mechanism exists.
Actually reduces bureaucracy:
PDOT demonstrates that training reduces problems, not creates them.
PDOT solutions applicable:
If PDOT reaches migrant workers (often less connected), tourist training can reach middle-class travellers.
Can’t wait for the government? Travel agents and tour operators can implement pre-departure training for Indian tourists now.
What Mastyatri and similar operators should do:
1. Create destination-specific briefing videos
2. Mandatory pre-trip meeting
3. Physical briefing packet
4. WhatsApp group pre-trip
Frame as: “We prepare you for a successful trip—no embarrassing surprises!”
Benefits:
PDOT model proves structured orientation works. The private sector can adopt principles immediately whilst lobbying the government for an official programme.
Strategy:
Bottom-up policy change backed by a proven government programme.
Unlike proposals requiring massive new infrastructure, extending PDOT to tourists requires:
Minimal additional investment: ₹2-3 crores (vs ₹10-15 crores starting fresh)
Existing infrastructure: PDOT centres, digital platforms, training expertise
Proven model: PDOT demonstrates the concept works for Indians
No legal complexity: Government controls the visa process—policy decision sufficient
Measurable outcomes: Track through complaints, reviews, and discrimination reports
Political support potential: Builds on existing programme success
International precedent: Many countries provide travel guidance
This isn’t a fantasy proposal. This is a logical extension of a proven successful programme implementable within 6-12 months.
To officials at the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism:
You successfully implemented PDOT. Over 115,000 workers trained. Measurable positive outcomes. International recognition.
Why not extend this success to tourists?
Same infrastructure. Same principles. Broader impact.
How many more hotel complaints? How many more discrimination incidents? Then, many more viral videos are damaging India’s reputation.
Before implementing the obvious extension of what already works?
Pre-departure training for Indian tourists isn’t a new experiment requiring political risk. It’s scaling proven success.
The model exists, and the infrastructure functions. The need is obvious.
All that’s missing is the decision to extend it.
PDOT provides 8-hour comprehensive training covering employment law, workplace rights, legal frameworks, and cultural adaptation for long-term residence. Tourist training would be 30-40 minutes focusing purely on hospitality etiquette, cultural sensitivity, and safety for short-term visits. Same principles, adapted scope.
Initially leverage existing PDOT infrastructure—training centres, multilingual capability, certificate system—with tourist-specific content. Video-first delivery (vs in-person for workers) allows scaling without proportional infrastructure expansion. As programme grows, dedicated tourist training resources could develop.
Following PDOT model, unlimited attempts allowed—goal is education, not gatekeeping. Repeated failures trigger additional resources (longer video, text guides) or in-person orientation option at PDOT centres or consulates.
Absolutely. Just as PDOT materials inform private recruitment agencies, tourist training content should be publicly accessible. Travel agents providing supplementary briefings using official materials would be encouraged.
Shouldn’t affect timeline. Training completion happens before application submission—parallel process. Visa processing begins only after training verified, same as current document verification. PDOT doesn’t delay emigration clearances; tourist training wouldn’t delay visa processing.
No. Training targets Indians departing from India who may lack international travel experience. NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs generally already culturally adapted. Same as PDOT focuses on emigrant workers from India, not diaspora returning.
This article proposes policy extension based on the existing government programme (PDOT) and travel industry experience. Not official government policy. The views expressed represent an analysis of tourism challenges and potential solutions, building on a proven model. Implementation would require government decision-making and regulatory processes.
Eccentric Blogger, Traveler and Consultant.
