Indian family caught taking items from Bali hotel, sparking criticism online

In a viral video, a man, believed to be a hotel staff member, is seen rummaging through baggage of the Indian travellers and recovering several items, including a bottle of liquid soap, towels, a mirror and a hairdryer. PHOTO: SCREENGRABS FROM HEMANTH/TWITTER via The Straits Times/Asia News Network

BALI — A video of a family from India trying to pilfer items from a Bali hotel has gone viral.

It was viewed more than 379, 000 times with several netizens lamenting that their action could cast a negative light on other Indian tourists traveling to the Indonesian resort island.

In the video, posted by fellow Indian and Twitter user, Hemanth, last Saturday (July 27), the family members were seen shouting at two men, believed to be hotel staff.

One of the men is seen rummaging through baggage and finding several items belonging to the hotel, including a bottle of liquid soap, towels, a mirror and a hairdryer.

“I will pay, ” one of the Indian men in the video is heard shouting shortly after.

“I know you have a lot of money but this is no respect, ” one of the hotel staff replies.

Bali police confirmed the incident in a Facebook post on Saturday, saying that it took place at The Royal Purnama hotel on Jalan Purnama Beach in Sukawati.

Bali police said a housekeeping manager saw the guests throwing items over the villa wall, and this prompted the staff to check their luggage.

The Facebook post added that a supervisor at the hotel recorded the video.

This family was caught stealing hotel accessories. Such an embarrassment for India.

Each of us carrying an #IndianPassport must remember that we are ambassadors of the nation and behave accordingly.

India must start cancelling passports of people who erode our credibility. pic.twitter.com/unY7DqWoSr

— Hemanth (@hemanthpmc) July 27, 2019

“After the items were found in their bags, the guests acknowledged their mistake and apologized.

“They returned everything they took while also paying for stuff missing from the hotel room, ” the police said in the post.

In his post on Twitter, Mr Hemanth said: “Having lived in Indonesia and visited Bali, I can personally vouch for Indonesians being the gentlest, most respectful people I have met.

“They hold India and Indians in very high esteem and it’s gut-wrenching to see us in such a compromised position.”

He added that as Indians were now traveling extensively a booklet on appropriate behavior during international travel was necessary.

Many netizens in India criticized the family while others pointed out that their actions were not representative of all Indian tourists.

Television host Mini Mathur tweeted: “The worst example of entitled Indian travelers who are a disgrace to the image of our country.”

Another Twitter user, @Aaila_GOGO, said: “What a shame… don’t understand what they get by stealing hotel items if they can afford a holiday outside India.”