Survey: 38% of Indian travelers steal things from hotels

A global survey by an online accommodation booking service has revealed that 35% of the global travelers have no qualms about taking home hotel amenities.

Of the 29 countries ranked by hotels.com, travelers from India (38%) are among the top three – after Colombia (40%) and Mexico (57%) — who admit to pocketing hotel items. Tourists from Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway take the top three spots in terms of honesty. China and the US are also ranked lower.

Hotels.com is part of Expedia Inc, the largest online travel company in the world. The survey, conducted in January 2013, used a weighted average based on a sample size of over 8,600 respondents. The tour and travel operators in India, however, do not agree.

Rajeev Kohli, vice-president of Indian Association of Tour Operators, said: “The survey covers only 29 countries…so we cannot generalise that Indians rank high in pocketing items.”

While in-room magazines, books and linens seem to be the sticky-fingered travellers’ favourites, other items include bathrobes, pillows, electronics items, irons and even lamps or alarm clocks.