VFS Global Roadshows fuel travel trade dialogue across 12 Indian cities

VFS Global conducted a series of roadshows across India, facilitating proactive engagement with the travel trade. The roadshows highlighted the offerings for the peak travel season, providing participating agents with a valuable opportunity to address their challenges.

- Prativa Vaidya Bhalla

The outreach series commenced in Bhubaneswar on February 19, 2024, and concluded in Kochi on March 26, 2024. It covered cities like Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, and Chennai, attracting over 1,200 participating agents.

The team representing VFS Global at the countrywide events was Vishal Jairath, Head South Asia, Visa Operations; Sharad Gowani, Regional Head, West; and Jaya Amit Mitra, Regional Head, South India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives. The event also received an overwhelming response from travel associations represented by Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI, and Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI.

At the Delhi chapter, Vishal Jairath, outlining the company’s global presence, said, “VFS Global operates in 149 countries and serves 67 client governments. In India, we operate in 19 cities, including the recent addition of Lucknow in 2023. We have seen a significant increase in application volumes, with a 16 per cent year-on-year growth from 2022 to 2023.” He further added, “Delhi, reflecting national trends, has experienced a 10 per cent year-on-year growth, though slightly lower than other parts of North India. Premium services like ‘Visa at Your Doorstep’ have seen a fivefold increase since 2019, catering to tier 3 and tier 4 city residents.”