Mumbai: An Indian content creator who has explored 120 countries has sparked a heated debate online after revealing that his most negative travel experience came in Georgia. In a viral video, the vlogger known as Explorer Raja recounted facing repeated discrimination and even a humiliating strip-search during his visits to the country.

Raja said his first trip to Georgia in 2019 left him shaken. Despite carrying a valid visa, hotel bookings, and an onward flight, he was allegedly detained for four hours at the border without explanation. “When I was flying out to Paris, they couldn’t believe I had a ticket to France. They even made me naked at the airport and checked everything,” he claimed.

Six years later, despite holding a passport filled with visas and stamps, he said his treatment at Georgian immigration remained the same. “At the counter, the woman looked at my passport and asked, ‘What is this? Why are you here?’ When I told her I was a tourist, she said it was impossible for an Indian to be a tourist,” he recalled, highlighting the struggles Indian passport holders face without visas from the US, Schengen zone or Canada. Check out the video below:

“It’s not just immigration; even the locals are racist. Out of 120 countries, very few upset me, and Georgia is one of them,” he added.

His video struck a chord with many Indians who shared similar stories. One user wrote, “100% felt the same way in Georgia. Beautiful country with terrible locals. I had a horrible experience at a money exchange and in restaurants where they ignored me.”

However, not everyone agreed. Some travellers defended Georgia, saying their experiences were warm and welcoming. “We met the sweetest people there. Travel experiences are so subjective. Sorry you went through this,” said one Indian woman. Another added, “Georgia is amazing. I went myself and faced no issues at all.”

The viral post has now triggered a wider conversation on racism, immigration bias, and how subjective travel experiences can be across different cultures.