• Western media has long shaped negative perceptions of Muslim countries, but travel vloggers are now challenging these narratives.
• While Pakistan welcomes visitors with warmth and generosity, India’s treatment of tourists, particularly women, raises concerns.
In its 2018 annual report, the RepTrax Index ranked the 15 countries with the worst reputations worldwide. Unsurprisingly, Pakistan placed third on the list. However, notably, RepTrak is based in Boston, USA, and its rankings rely on surveys conducted exclusively in G7 countries—a significant limitation the report fails to highlight. Similarly, a 2023 Gallup poll found that among 21 nations, Americans ranked Afghanistan as the the fifth least favoured country. In other news, water is wet.
But how have Westerners been relentlessly drip-fed distorted perceptions of places the majority have never set foot in? No prizes for guessing—a steady diet of mainstream media, Hollywood scripts, and New York Times bestsellers. “..Suppression sells. That’s the industry”—Yellowface by RF Kuang for instance, critiques how the publishing industry capitalises on the oppression of women in the third world. However, what Kuang conveniently overlooks through the protagonist, June, is how publishers contribute to the scarcity of writers addressing the oppression of women in the West —where Feminism has obliterated the happiness of women. And the dire consequences of women prioritising work over family have become evident.
American Sniper strips Iraq of its humanity, culture, and people, reducing the country to a backdrop for American heroism while presenting it as a place in desperate need of moral correction—the unflinching nerve! The people of the land are reduced to faceless enemies and savages, and the brutal slaughter of Muslims in the so-called ‘War on Terror’ is both justified and celebrated. The question arises: who, in their right mind, would want to visit such a place?
Well…in an unforeseen shift, western travel vloggers are skipping the CNN horror show, and instead— experiencing and revealing— the reality of such Muslim lands. This article will focus on Pakistan and the shifting dynamics of its tourism industry. In the latter portion of this article, we will examine how Western YouTubers document their experiences in Pakistan in comparison to India.
Whether trekking through the breathtaking mountains of Gilgit or sipping organic lassi on the bustling streets of Lahore —brace yourselves—westerners are having the time of their lives in Pakistan, who would have ever thought? But it’s not just about the adventure. One common thread among travellers like Luke Dumant (brand ambassador for cheese paratha) and Chris Lewis, both of whom have journeyed across Pakistan multiple times, is their admiration for the unparalleled hospitality. They frequently praise how they are welcomed with open arms and treated to free food at nearly every stop. Drew Binsky, the American Jew who has travelled to 197 countries, even created a video titled “Why is everything free in Pakistan?” In a separate video, he shares how locals, upon learning he is Jewish, are unfazed and continue to embrace him with warmth and kindness.
There has been concern among some in the comments section, however, who feel that Pakistani vendors, often living in poverty, should not be offering free handouts to financially comfortable white travellers who visit their land. This, however, is not, as some might assume, a result of the gora complex since there are instances where black foreigners receive the same treatment. What this beautifully reflects is the essence of Islamic hospitality—how many vendors are filmed saying, “No money, you are our guest.” Moreover, it highlights how tourists are not subjected to inflated prices, and how the Muslim vendor in Pakistan, guided by Islamic principles, does not fear poverty.
Female Canadian traveller Rosie Gabrielle embarked on a journey across 11,000 kilometers of Pakistan reporting how she felt very safe. During her travels, she fell in love Islam and a Pakistani man, and became a Muslim and a wife to a fellow biker. On the other hand, the experiences of female travellers in neighbouring India differs significantly. Female tourists are often frequently subjected to sexual assault during their travels in India..
Here’s another traveller explaining how he had a terrible time in India:
India is 80 percent Hindu, while Pakistan is 97 percent Muslim—religion plays a pivotal role in shaping how both countries welcome tourists and the unique experiences they offer. But how can religion have anything to do with people’s experiences, I hear you say? Fear not, my dear readers— I bring receipts:
A vlogger recently captured how a Hindu caste in northern India prohibits tourists from touching anything in the area, as it is considered sacred. Moreover, a male tourist is seen placing his money on the ground whilst paying for something, as he is prohibited from touching a Hindu boy’s hand (as foreigners are perceived to be impure).
Furthermore, Hindu ceremonies in India involve cow dung fights. And as reported by our brother Zeeshan Ali, founder of S2J News, an American lady who was invited into the home of a Hindu family in India was repulsed by the family’s cow dung beliefs.
Tourists have attested to witnessing locals in India openly defecating in the streets, drinking cow urine and eating cow faeces. Furthermore, food being prepared under the most unsanitary conditions, in some instances even resulting in hospitalisation of vloggers due to severe food poisoning.
If you are a non-Muslim who has been blinded by the fear-mongering narratives surrounding Muslim lands, I dare you to stop being an arm chair warrior and have an open mind — experience these lands for yourself. A range of possibilities awaits you— you may come to realise that the west is not as superior as you have thought for the entire duration of your life. You may discover that Muslims are among the most hospitable people in the world, and, perhaps most unexpectedly, if Allah wills, you may even understand your purpose in life and embrace Islam, as many others have during their travels.
