769 foreign tourists from all over the country have registered on the ‘Stranded in India’ portal within the first five days of its launch, the Ministry of tourism said.
Indian government has launched portal www.strandedinindia.com on March 31 with a view to identify, assist and facilitate foreign tourists who are stranded in various parts of India due to the lockdown situation.
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, the statement said.
“Every State government and Union Territory Administration has identified a Nodal Officer for assisting such foreign tourists. The five 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,” according to an official release.
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, it said.
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 added.
