Hyderabad’s popular tourist hubs, foreign tourists often find themselves at the centre of attention — sometimes more than they would like.
Hyderabad: At Hyderabad’s popular tourist hubs, foreign tourists often find themselves at the centre of attention — sometimes more than they would like. While many say they feel welcomed in Hyderabad, some foreigners admit that constant stares and selfie requests can be overwhelming.
This attention comes primarily due to their different physical appearances. “Since they look tall, fair and different, locals stare at them and try to get pictures with them,” said Karunanidhi, India tourist guide. Tourism officials also explained that many foreigners enjoy these interactions due to our cultural differences.
Martin Schnapp from Germany, on his first trip to India, came across certain people at Charminar who posed in front of his camera without his consent, which he found slightly uncomfortable. “When I try to take pictures, people photobomb my pictures, which is new for me and slightly uncomfortable. I don’t know if it’s inappropriate behaviour or not, but yes, sometimes it feels like they are disturbing on purpose. People here also stare at me a lot, maybe because they are just curious,” he said.
Some foreigners also mentioned instances of locals asking for selfies. Eva Hesmair from Vienna, Austria, who is visiting Hyderabad for the first time, said, “People take photos without asking. That’s what I don’t like. I feel fine when they ask, but clicking my pictures without asking isn’t polite.” Her business partner Mathia Haas said, “The city is definitely noisy as there’s a lot of honking, which is not something we experience in Vienna, but that’s part of the atmosphere. In general, the people are friendly and welcoming here.”
“Since I’m travelling with Mathias, I feel safe, but I wonder if I would have felt the same comfort if I were travelling alone or with my female friends,” Eva added.
However, not all tourists find the attention uncomfortable. Alex Mirkovic and Hannah Mirkovic from England, described their experience as friendly and exciting. “People are curious, but no one has behaved inappropriately. We feel safe and welcomed,” said Alex.
“If we’re not in the mood for selfies, we just say no or walk away, but we love the attention that we’re getting from people,” added Hannah.
To address these issues and ensure a more comfortable experience for foreign tourists, certain measures are in place. Police officials stated that no harassment cases have been reported in the Charminar area and said that they’ve deployed SHE teams, CCS teams, and Crime teams in busy markets to ensure tourist safety.
“If foreigners face any issues with local behaviour at any tourist spot, they can come and complain to the nearby police,” said a police official, requesting anonymity. Telangana Tourist guide John Wilson revealed that while some tourists might find the attention overwhelming, most locals do it out of curiosity rather than malicious intent.
Street vendors also admitted they quote higher prices to foreigners. “We sell bangles for Rs 150, but we charge Rs 300 to foreigners, hoping to get a good income,” said Mohammed Munowar, a vendor at Laad Bazaar. Cotton candy that usually costs Rs 10 was once offered at Rs 100 to a tourist from the US, said local guide John Wilson. “However, she didn’t mind because it was less than a dollar to her,” he added.
The situation is similar at tourist monuments. “Foreigners are charged Rs 300 at Golconda Fort while Indians pay only Rs 25. At the Salar Jung Museum, they pay Rs 500, compared to Rs 20 for Indian visitors. “Since it's just worth $3 or $5, it doesn't seem big to them and that is the revenue source for us,” explained K. Anji Reddy, general manager of Telangana Tourism. He further stated that a separate state tourism policy hasn’t yet been implemented.
While the excitement and unique traditions from foreigners bring charm to the city, tourism officials and police officials agree that more sensitivity from locals could help make foreign visitors feel more respected and make sure that Hyderabad remains a welcoming place for everyone.
