Last Updated on July 18, 2024 3:27 pm
Foreign Vloggers in India : The Upsurge and the motive behind it
India, a land steeped in rich cultural tapestries and kaleidoscopic diversity, has emerged as an irresistible magnet for foreign vloggers and content creators seeking to capture the essence of this captivating nation along with gaining personal and monetary growth. From the snow-capped Himalayas to the sun-drenched beaches of the south, India’s vibrant landscapes and unique traditions have ignited a fervent interest among content creators worldwide, enticing them to embark on extraordinary journeys of exploration and storytelling. Is this all about beauties, monuments and nature, or is there something different attracting them? Moreover, In recent years we all have noticed a lot of international vloggers video’s popping up on our feed. Isn’t this strange? How come India has been a major source of attraction for foreigners. In this editorial we will dive deep looking on aspects that contribute majorly to this sudden upsurge covering the bad, the good and the worst.
Cultural diversity is undoubtedly one of India’s most potent draws for foreign vloggers. This ancient land is a melting pot of traditions, religions, and lifestyles, each contributing to a vibrant mosaic that defies homogeneity. Vloggers are enthralled by the opportunity to immerse themselves in the intricate rituals, colorful festivals, and the warmth of Indian hospitality. Whether it’s documenting the grandeur of the Taj Mahal or delving into the intricacies of Ayurvedic practices foreign content creators find themselves captivated by the depth and richness of India’s cultural heritage. By sharing these experiences with their global audiences with the majority of them from India itself, they not only entertain but also foster cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.
The surge of foreign vloggers in India has been fueled, in part, by the rise of social media platforms that have revolutionized the way content is created and consumed. With platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook at their disposal, these content creators have found a global stage to share their experiences and connect with audiences worldwide fueling their interest alongside gaining personal and professional growth.
By leveraging the power of social media, foreign vloggers have been able to build dedicated followings, engage with their audiences in real-time, and foster a sense of community around their shared love for India. This digital connectivity has not only amplified their reach but has also allowed them to tailor their content to the interests and preferences of their viewers.
The influx of foreign vloggers in India has also been driven by the monetization opportunities that the digital landscape presents. As their audiences grow, these content creators have the potential to generate revenue through sponsorships, brand collaborations, and various monetization models offered by social media platforms. Furthermore, the surge of foreign vloggers has opened doors for cross-cultural collaborations, both with fellow content creators and with local businesses and organizations. These partnerships not only enhance the reach and impact of their content but also foster greater cultural exchange and economic opportunities for communities across India.
Another aspect that strictly needs to be considered is gaining massive followers and audiences. As because India, the most populated country with a massive young population(aged 18 to 35 years old) of about 600 million, catalysts the attraction for international creators. To be extremely precise, they just want to cater to a large number of audiences especially from India as they are well aware of the boiling curiosities among Indians and their childish urge to see themselves in digital space. It’s all about one’s mentality and the requirement of White Validation.
Controversies/ I got scammed = Content & Engagements
It is to be noted that everything we see on Social Media is not always correct, factual or sequential as the way it is shown. Creators in this era would do anything for followers. They would fight, script a #Igotscammed scene or could even disrespect their parents… but on camera. Meanwhile, content about controversies and scams attract massive engagement with people showing their sympathy by liking the video or feeling sorry for their (tourists) bad experience by commenting on the videos, unintentionally increasing the reach of the video. The Platform’s Algorithm will consider those videos as an attraction and will further increase their reach ultimately suggesting more of its videos to other users and that’s what they want.
Do you Remember the 5 Tarzan (Thousand) Scam guy in Karachi. Let’s have a look on what does the dates say. On 6 March 2022 Luke Damant uploaded a video titled “Don’t trust this man in Pakistan” (Referring to a scam by a horse rider) which garnered massive attention and a whopping 8 Million Views (as of now).In this video, Luke Damant shares his encounter with a horse ride scam. Local individual initially offer him what appears to be an inexpensive horse ride, but later surprise him with an exorbitant fee. Luke meticulously records the entire interaction, shedding light on the tactics employed by the scammers to deceive unsuspecting tourists. Thereafter on 19 March 2022 Dale Philip uploaded a video of the same concept titled “Avoid this horse ride SCAM in Karachi” . Yes, SCAM in capital letters to gain attraction of so-called concerned citizens. Dale Philip’s video follows a similar narrative. In this video, he recounts how he was invited for a horse ride under false pretenses, leading to an unexpected high charge. Dale showcases the interaction, providing a detailed commentary on the scam’s mechanics and his personal reactions. The close resemblance in the storyline of both videos along with nearby upload dates raises questions about whether these interactions were genuinely spontaneous or intentionally scripted. The structure and sequence of events in both videos are strikingly similar, suggesting a possible coordinated effort from both sides. Certain reactions and interactions in the videos appear exaggerated, which is common in vlogs to maintain viewer engagement. However, this dramatization can sometimes blur the line between genuine experiences and staged scenarios to bait audiences.
The Celebrity Treatment & Foreign Validation
Getting fascinated and excited on seeing foreigners especially white skin and blonde/brown hair is not a new thing. This poses serious repercussions for our tourism industry. We talk about “Atithi Devo Bhava” but are we really abiding by it? Just imagine for yourself, traveling a country and suddenly you are bamboozled by crowd chants, comments and selfies request. Isn’t this disturbing? Well! The actual tourist won’t like it, but content creators do like it but only as a potential content for their social media.
Foreign Validation is another contributor for the large number of foreign content creators in India. They use our curiosity and excitement against us for their personal and professional gains. It’s not a mischief of them but nevertheless it’s the outcome of our colonial mindset whose seed has been planted in our mind way back. All along the colonial period our ancestors have seen whites getting massive respect, enjoying luxurious life and were differentiated from the rest of the population. This differentiation factor has led us to give them our validation and to prove or confirm that they are valuable or worthwhile.
It’s normal that anyone traveling to a country would film the surroundings, tourist attractions and capture their precious moment. Share it with their friends or upload on social Media platforms. That’s where local individuals interfere with their privacy by trying to be on their camera or by giving them their unsolicited introduction. They film this moment, upload it online with a catchy title and then they are good to go.
Intentionally Poking India and Indians on digital space
On an international level of content creation, it has now become common for creators to poke India or Indians deliberately criticizing or commenting on our rituals, customs, practices and habits. Including The word “India ” in the video title will pull a large number of audiences hungry for cheap entertainment interested in seeing a foreigner criticizing our homeland or watching videos titled “Donating big rewards to honest men in India” , “Avoid this scam in India”, “I was mind blown by the traffic rules in India, ”Indian food” “Dirty India” or “Cow on streets in India”.
There are differing perspectives on travel experiences within India. Some visitors may view certain challenges as reflecting poorly on the country overall and would portray only the negative on their videos. However, it is important to consider the scale and diversity of India’s population and development challenges. With over 1.4 billion citizens across varied regions, infrastructure and living standards will understandably vary greatly in some areas. The country faces ongoing issues upgrading facilities and access across its entirety. Certain locations also bear the ongoing impacts of past security incidents, necessitating caution. A Youtube channel named “Bald and Bankrupt” uploaded a video titled “Attacked at India’s most expensive hotel” on 1 Dec 2018 where he claimed the men in the boat attacked and swore at him. Obviously both the parties had difficulty in communication but a thorough research of rules and regulation is necessary before taking an unorthodox step. The vlogger tries to swim to the entrance of Lake View Palace, Udaipur upon which he was confronted by boatmen as to why he has taken an unorthodox path and were angry as it may violate the Hotel’s policies or rather the way it brings a toll on their (boatmen) business. Without even having a clarification with the officials, he recklessly uploaded the video with a distorting title along with mentioning the Hotel’s name in the Video’s Description.
Therefore, it becomes important for visitors to undertake sufficient research to have appropriate expectations for the realities on the ground in India. Our cities are massively populated global centres, yet affordable housing remains a long-term national priority. Uneven progress is inevitable for such a large, complex democracy with ongoing border and internal issues still to fully address. Obviously, India being the most populated country would certainly have over-crowded cities, metros and neighbourhoods and deliberately pointing that out is not a good thing. An open and informed perspective is most conducive for a productive travel experience within India’s dynamic society.
Typical ContentMongers.
