For me it brought back memories of volunteering for a development agency as a white European in rural Cambodia.

Most people from the villages who came to the hospital I worked at had never seen a white person. Many were scared of me and my colleague because they were convinced we were ghosts. Every day people were pointing at me and shouting over the whole street or the market "Look! A white person!!" (Not in so polite words, though). And often small street stalls and businesses refused to talk to us, because they didn't stop/listen long enough to realise I try to speak Cambodian (Khmai) with them.

I'm not saying this is racism towards me, a white person. But I feel the reaction towards the "unknown" might be similar.