Foreign tourists arriving in India to get pre-loaded SIM cards with data and talktime
But these are only for those who come on an e-Visa.
Kriti Saraswat-Satpathy
| Updated: February 16, 2017 9:58 PM IST
The Indian government is taking essential steps to ensure the safety and well-being of foreign tourists arriving in India. Earlier, they launched a tourist helpline number (1800111363) in 12 foreign languages which works round-the-clock to ensure foreigners who come here can reach out to the concerned authorities in a language they are fluent in. And now, they have started an initiative to give away pre-loaded SIM cards to foreign tourists who visit India once they land.
The SIM card which will have a talktime of Rs 50 and 50 mb data as well will be provided by BSNL. It will be given to tourists coming to India on an e-Visa. Currently, the initiative has started at New Delhi International Airport but very soon it will be implemented across all 15 international airports in India. The first kit of the SIM was presented to a representative of the Travel and Tourism sector by Dr Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Tourism and Culture. He was also the main person who launched this initiative.
The idea behind this initiative was also to let the tourists coming in India feel and stay connected with their loved ones back home and also have an immediate access to call someone in India once they are out of their flight. This will surely lessen one thing from their list of things to be done once they land and because it is free for all foreign tourists who come via an e-Visa, it is a good move for them. The SIM cards will be provided to the tourists after collecting a copy of their e-Visa and the first page of their passport.
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Published: February 16, 2017 8:20 PM IST | Updated: February 16, 2017 9:58 PM IST