"Herge was always interested in exotic locations and travel around the world, " said Paris-based 'Tintinologist' and comic-book artist Jean-Marc Lofficier.
Michael Farr, a leading British 'Tintinologist', says Herge actually did a "lot of research" for Tintin's Indian journey: he secured catalogues of all the aircraft Air India used and uniforms the cabin crew wore at that time.