Occupation:
Regional Director, Department of Indian Tourism
Time in Japan:
Fourteen months
Where are you from?
The south of India.
What do you do here?
I promote Indian tourism. I handle all publicity and media contacts, assist tourists going
to India, answer questions. We support travel agents as well. We print brochures and
posters for local distribution with basic information about travel destinations, tourist
packages, where to go in India. We also promote the country culturally by explaining
Indian culture to visitors before they go, so they have an idea of what the country is
like. We support the travel agent promoting India by printing their brochures and joining
in their advertisements. I meet many different kinds of people, so it' very interesting
work.
Does your work include travel?
Yes, I do the same work in other countries. I'm a liaison with their Indian embassies. In
Hong Kong, we also have an ad agency we work with to do promotional materials.
What kind of questions do you get?
Most of the inquiries we get are about destinations and food-what kind of food is
available, what to see and buy-basic information. Sometimes a tourist runs into minor
problems, but the office in India takes care of it. For example, a taxi driver is rude or
tries to take their money. Regular tourist problems you see in any country.
What brought you to Japan?
I was in tourism and marketing, and I worked hard to qualify myself to come to Japan. Once
I assumed my post, I was put in charge of East Asia.
Are you planning to stay?
For a while, yes, but after that I don't know.
What do you like about Japan most?
When I first came here, I had quite a different opinion. I was a little bit shocked by all
the Western influences. I had heard about Japan before coming here, but the image keeps
changing by meeting different people. Although on the outside, Japanese people are very
Westernized, inside they are still very Japanese. They're warm, polite, concerned and do
not discriminate. I haven't come across any discrimination during my stay. This is very
important and one of the reasons why I like Japan so much.
What do you dislike about Japan?
The cost of living. It's so expensive!
What is the strangest experience you've ever had in Japan?
The feeling of being safe. I never felt that I was really alone while walking around.
Also, whether you are a sweeper or a high-ranking officer, there's basic human equality.
Maybe it's not strange, but my impression is a sense of awe that people can behave this
way.
If you could take one thing back to your native country from Japan, what would it
be?
Punctuality, patience, and precision in planning.
Do you have a favorite place to eat or drink in Tokyo?
No particular restaurant, but I love sashimi, fugu and crab.
Where do you want to be on New Year's Eve, 1999?
Maybe skiing with my children. I'm not worried about Y2K problems or anything like that.
You have to spend the rest of your life trapped on the Yamanote line. You're
allowed to take one book, one CD and one luxury item. What would they be?
There are many books that I like to read again and again, so I can't really decide on one
book. If the family is there, I could last for a few days, but I don't know about an
eternity. It's quite a long time.
For inquiries about India, please call The Government of India Tourist Office at
03-3571-5196 or email.
Occupation:
LIFE IN JAPAN: