New Delhi, April 6:  'Atithi Devo Bhava' that drives Incredible India is really being implemented to help the foreign tourists who are stranded in India due to the lockdown. The Tourism Ministry has reported on Monday that in the first 5 days of its operation, 769 foreign tourists from all over the country had registered on the portal "Stranded in India".

 

Due to the portal, the foreign tourists are being contacted over e-mails, telephones and also in-person to help them in any they require. They are connected with the relevant foreign office of their home country in India. Various information is given on updates on flights out of India to their home countries. They are also provided medical assistance, food, and accommodation. The portal will continue to serve its purpose and the government ensure the comfort and well being of our foreign guests during their stay in India.

 

 

As the lockdown is imposed because of the deadly coronavirus, the Ministry had launched a portal (www.strandedinindia.com) on 31st March in order to help the foreign tourists who are stranded in various parts of India given the travel restrictions. They had to go through a process where they had to log on to the portal, provide some basic contact information and narrate the nature of issues being faced by them if any. Meanwhile, in the first 5 days of its operation, 769 foreign tourists from all over the country registered on the portal.

 

The statement reported, "Every State Government and Union Territory Administration has identified a Nodal Officer for assisting such foreign tourists. 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."

 

It further added, "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 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 statement also gave out a few instances where the stranded tourists are getting help from the government. A lady, who is an American citizen, was stranded in Supaul district of Bihar amidst the COVID19 lockdown, while her son was undergoing 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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

However, the above are just a few of the many occasions in which the portal helped many foreigners in getting critical assistance at a crucial time.