A group of Indian tourists has led to international outrage and social media debate after a video surfaced showing hotel staff at a luxury Bali resort discovering a mountain of stolen room amenities packed inside the guests’ luggage.
The incident occurred on April 19 at the Asvara Resort Ubud. According to resort staff, the four guests had checked in on April 16 for a three-night stay. However, the routine checkout process took a dramatic turn when housekeeping noticed an unusually high number of items missing from the suite.
In the viral footage, which has since been viewed millions of times, resort employees are seen unpacking the tourists’ suitcases in the lobby. The haul included a range of non-complementary hotel property, from plush kimono robes, bath towels, a hairdryer, a TV remote control box, tableware, dining utensils, and a bathroom doormat.
As the items were pulled from the bags, one of the tourists can be heard offering a frantic apology, saying, "I will pay, I am sorry. This is a family tour."
A member of the hotel staff, clearly frustrated, replied in the video: "I know you have a lot of money, but this is no respect. You come to Bali, you just steal—no respect."
Watch the video here:
INDIAN TOURISTS DO NOT LEARN 🤦🏻🤦🏻
Indian tourists, who stayed at Ubud, Bali (Indonesia) were caught by hotel-staff stealing stuff from the hotel.
Why would you go to a foreign country and do such cheap act/crime??
This is embarrassing to watch as an Indian. pic.twitter.com/ETtxJArCgl
— Tarun Gautam (@TARUNspeakss) April 21, 2026
Social media fallout follows
The footage has rekindled a heated exchange about the reputation of Indian travellers abroad.
Many social media users expressed deep embarrassment, with one commenter noting, "They can afford a trip to Bali but steal a used doormat? This is a stain on our national image."
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has also previously issued advisories urging citizens to be mindful of local laws and customs while travelling.
Despite the blatant nature of the theft, the resort chose not to pursue criminal charges. Local authorities confirmed that after a tense confrontation, the guests returned all the stolen property and paid for damages. The "mutual agreement" allowed the tourists to leave the property and catch their flight, though they have reportedly been blacklisted from the resort group.
Management at Asvara Resort issued a brief statement following the viral surge of the video, reminding guests that while toiletries are complimentary, "the room and its furnishings are provided for the comfort of all future guests."
But this isn’t the first time an Indian family has been accused of taking items from a hotel overseas. A notable case from 2019 involved a family staying at The Royal Purnama in Bali.
A viral two-minute video showed hotel staff opening their bags in front of them and finding items like decorative mirrors and jars, hairdryers, soap dispensers, along with hangers, towels, and even a dustbin.
In the clip, a man from the family is heard saying, “I will pay,” while a woman argues with staff for recording them.
