New Delhi (NVI): In the first five days of its operation, ‘Stranded in India’ portal launched by the Ministry of Tourism has helped foreign tourists stuck in the country due to the lockdown situation.
The portal was launched on March 31 and since then, 769 foreign tourists from all over the country have registered on the portal that is aimed at identifying, assisting and facilitating them.
Such tourists would need to log on to the portal, provide some basic contact information and narrate the nature of issues being faced by them if any.
Every State Government and Union Territory Administration has identified a Nodal Officer for assisting such foreign tourists, the Ministry of Tourism said in a statement today.
The 5 Regional Offices of the Ministry of Tourism are constantly coordinating with the Nodal Officers regarding the Support Requests logged on the portal, for facilitating ground support to the foreigners, if so required.
The Tourism Ministry Regional Offices are also coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration and FRROs regarding Visa issues being faced by stranded foreigners. Requests for movement within the country/state and for transfer to the home country of such tourists are also being coordinated with the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and with the respective Embassy/High Commission/Consulate.
The Ministry further stated that the utility and efficacy of the portal has led to stranded foreign tourists being contacted over e-mails, telephones and also in person depending on the nature of support required by them.
“They have been connected with the relevant foreign office of their home country in India and provided various information updates on flights out of India to their home countries. Wherever required, they have been provided medical assistance, food and accommodation,” it said.
The Tourism Ministry also mentioned some cases where foreigners or foreign tourists received helped through the portal amid lockdown.
A lady, who is an American citizen, was stranded in Supaul district of Bihar amidst the COVID19 lockdown, while her son was undergoing a surgery at Delhi. The portal facilitated the required inter-ministerial, inter-departmental and State-Centre coordination and secured her a special transit-permit to travel to Delhi. She has safely reached her destination and expressed her gratitude for the efforts put in by all the concerned agencies, the ministry said.
In another case, two Costa Rican citizens, who had come to Chennai for a surgery (medical tourism), were stranded at Chennai after the surgery. “Close coordination with the State Government, the Costa Rican Embassy and the hotel in which the tourists were staying helped in soothing the frayed and panicked nerves of the tourists. They are now safe and well,” the ministry said in a statement.
An Australian tourist with his family was stranded in Ahmedabad. The tourist has epilepsy and ran out of medication prescribed by Australian doctors due to the lockdown. The portal led to the tourist being reached through the office of the District Collector. He was provided with sufficient medication and was also offered food and local transportation. Now, they are comfortable and safe, according to an official statement by the ministry.
