![\"\u201cWhy](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-128643786,imgsize-1071860,width-400,resizemode-4\/why-are-you-even-here.jpg\" "\\"Representative")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor many Indian families, a first international trip is more than a vacation, it\u2019s a milestone. It\u2019s months of planning, quiet excitement, careful budgeting and proud anticipation. That was exactly the case for one Indian traveller who recently took his 52-year-old mother on her first flight and first journey abroad, choosing Georgia as their winter destination.He shared his experience on reddit<\/a>. On paper, everything was in order. He held a valid US B1\/B2 visa, which allows Indian passport holders visa-free entry into Georgia. The tickets were booked months in advance., and his plan was just simple and heartfelt, which was to show his mother snow for the first time.But, what followed, however, was not a dramatic travel disaster, as there were no detentions, no denied entries, no official violations. Instead, a string of interactions that, taken together, didn\u2019t give them a good feeling, and left them feeling unwelcome. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He adds, \u201cThe officer asked if I had a visa. I said I have a valid US visa. I explained that my mother cannot speak English, so we approached the counter together. The officer asked, \u201cWhy are both of you here?\u201d I explained again that my mother only understands Tamil.Her response, he says, was blunt: \u201cWhy are you even here then?\u201d\u201cI was already frustrated,\u201d he wrote. \u201cSo I just said: tourism.\u201dHe described visible irritation from the officer, eye-rolling, annoyed expressions, and what he interpreted as hostility. After confirming that he had previously travelled to the United States on his visa, they were eventually allowed through. But as they walked away, he says the officer made a dismissive hand gesture and muttered something in Georgian.He adds that he doesn\u2019t speak Georgian, but tone and body language don\u2019t need translation. Read more: \u2018Carry small candies or cigarettes\u2019: Why this Baksheesh tip keeps showing up in Egypt travel forums<\/a><\/p>\n Their next uncomfortable moment came during a one-night stay in Gudauri. Because they had left their physical passports at their Airbnb in Tbilisi and carried only digital copies, the hotel receptionist was reportedly cold and visibly annoyed during check-in. While that interaction was ongoing, a white tourist from their day tour entered the building simply to use the restroom, she wasn\u2019t even a guest. <\/p>\n \u201cThe receptionist immediately smiled and greeted her,\u201d he wrote. \u201cAnother staff member held the door open and guided her in politely.\u201dWhen he and his mother entered earlier with luggage, as paying guests, they struggled with the door. \u201cThe same staff member just motioned us to come in. No help.\u201dThe contrast was obvious, he added, and it was definitely not comfortable.Not every encounter was negative. Some cab drivers, including a few Russians, were warm and kind. But he says roughly half of their service interactions felt cold or dismissive. \u201cNo response to greetings. No nod. No reply when I said thank you.\u201dCaf\u00e9s and taxis offered functional service, but little courtesy. Individually, each moment was minor. Together, he says, they formed a pattern he couldn\u2019t ignore. Read more: Tourism revival in J&K: All sites expected to reopen by May, 9 new destinations planned, says CM Omar Abdullah<\/a><\/p>\n At departure security, he was selected for swab testing. He noticed two other visibly Muslim passengers being checked as well.\u201cI was almost asked to remove my shoes too,\u201d he wrote, noting that only passengers wearing long boots were being required to do so, and he wasn\u2019t wearing boots. After a pause, the officer did not proceed. At passport control, he says he was asked to show a Georgian visa despite having entered legally using his US visa.\u201cNothing escalated,\u201d he acknowledged. \u201cBut it felt unnecessary.\u201dHe further adds, \u201cMaybe none of it was \u2018complaint-worthy,\u2019 but taken together, it didn\u2019t feel right.\u201dHe went further, adding: \u201cIf you are brown, traveling on an Indian passport, or visibly Muslim, you will most likely face extra scrutiny and, at times, disrespect \u2014 even when all your documents are valid.\u201d The most painful part, however, was personal. <\/p>\n \u201cThis was my mother\u2019s first international trip. First flight ever. I was so excited to show her snow.\u201dHe had even planned to return in spring to see Georgia\u2019s landscapes in a different season. After this experience, he says, that won\u2019t happen.He anticipated criticism, that he should have researched more. He had, he says, booked three months in advance. Originally, Vietnam was the destination, but nine-hour layovers felt too exhausting for someone who had never flown before. Georgia seemed simpler and more manageable.a\u201cIn hindsight, maybe I should have researched more deeply,\u201d he admitted. \u201cAnd I accept that.\u201dThe post has sparked discussion among travellers about subtle bias, passport privilege, and the difference between overt discrimination and quiet exclusion. Many Indian travellers also shared similar kind experiences while travelling abroad. It also highlights a reality many travellers agree that documentation may grant entry, but not always dignity.Disclaimer: The above article is based on a Reddit post and Times of India has not verified the veracity of the claim<\/span><\/div>\n\n![\"airport\"](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-23456,msid-128644143\/airport.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAt immigration: \u201cWhy are you even here?\u201d<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
At the hotel<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"hotel\"](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-23456,msid-128644097\/hotel.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nExit airport: Extra scrutiny<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"reddit\"](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-23456,msid-128643898\/reddit.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n