Archive · 24 Aug 2026
‘5 Feet From Immigration’: US Traveller Criticises Delhi Airport Duty-Free
An American traveller filmed part of Delhi Airport after passengers finish immigration.
The video showed the duty-free shopping area.
This area sells products such as perfumes, cosmetics, chocolates, snacks, and spirits.
The traveller said salespeople quickly encouraged passengers to buy things.
He described this as an unpleasant first welcome to India.
Harsh Goenka agreed that airports should make arrivals calmer and easier.
Some people online said the salespeople are polite and can be ignored.
They also said similar airport layouts exist in other countries.
Other people said the selling feels annoying or like harassment.
American architect Damon Zumbroegel shared a video of Delhi Airport’s duty-free area on X.
He said salespeople began promoting products immediately after immigration, allegedly less than five feet away.
The duty-free stores sell items including spirits, cosmetics, fragrances, chocolates, and snacks.
Industrialist Harsh Goenka backed the criticism and called for a more dignified, hassle-free airport entry.
X users were divided, with some defending the setup and others calling the sales approach annoying or harassing.
- Who
- American architect Damon Zumbroegel, industrialist Harsh Goenka, and users on X.
- What
- A debate over salespeople promoting duty-free products to passengers immediately after immigration at Delhi Airport.
- When
- The video and online reactions were described as recent; no specific date was given.
- Where
- The duty-free area of Delhi Airport, India, after international passengers clear immigration.
- Why
- Zumbroegel and Goenka objected to what they viewed as aggressive selling during passengers’ arrival into India.
Critics of the Sales Approach
Defenders of the Airport Setup
Passenger experience
Critics of the Sales Approach
Critics said salespeople swarm arriving passengers and aggressively promote products, making the experience annoying or harassing.
Defenders of the Airport Setup
Defenders said passengers can politely decline, nod, ignore the staff, or simply say no.
First impression of India
Critics of the Sales Approach
Zumbroegel and Goenka said aggressive selling immediately after immigration creates an undignified or poor welcome for visitors.
Defenders of the Airport Setup
Supporters said the sales activity causes no meaningful harm or inconvenience when passengers decline or ignore it.
Whether the layout is unusual
Critics of the Sales Approach
Some users said they had experienced this level of overselling only in India and found it discouraging.
Defenders of the Airport Setup
Another user said international airports in Australia and other countries also place duty-free shopping between immigration and baggage collection.
- Location
- Delhi Airport, India
- Area discussed
- The duty-free section immediately after immigration
- Distance cited
- Zumbroegel said the area was not even five feet from immigration
- Products sold
- Spirits, cosmetics, luxury fragrances, chocolates, and snacks from international brands
- Traveller’s criticism
- He said visitors were met with repeated ‘BUY’ sales pitches after immigration
- Harsh Goenka’s response
- He said airports should provide passengers with a dignified, hassle-free entry
- Public reaction
- X users disagreed over whether the salespeople were harmless or overly aggressive
