Tag Archives: money

Visa applications in India surpass pre-pandemic volumes in H1 2024

Robust pent-up demand for outbound travel from India for the first time went past the pre-pandemic levels in H1 2024 (January to June 2024). According to VFS Global that manages visa applications for 52 countries from India, the volumes recorded in H1 2024, surpassed the same period in 2019 by 2%. It also witnessed a steady 11% YoY growth in application counts over H1 2023.

“Outbound travel demand from India has remained robust and it was a matter of time that pre-pandemic levels were restored. India has been witnessing an extended travel season over the past two years and we are confident the momentum would last till the year-end. We remain committed to providing exceptional customer service through technology-led, seamless, highly secure and reliable solutions,” said Yummi Talwar, COO – (South Asia), VFS Global.

Talwar emphasised the importance of applicants being cautious of counterfeit websites and fraudulent social media pages that pose as VFS Global and offer appointments in exchange of money.

“Appointments are free and are exclusively available through www.vfsglobal.com on a first-come, first-served basis. As a responsible service provider, we persist in raising awareness about this concern and encourage applicants to arrange their travel plans well in advance.”

Some of the popular destinations comprise Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, USA and UK. (in alphabetical order).

The preference for tailored services persisted as a predominant trend in visa application behaviours. VFS Global noted a significant increase in the demand for personalised services such as Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD). This premium optional service allows applicants to manage the full visa application submission from their homes or any preferred location, including biometric enrolment. VAYD bookings in H1 2024 in India registered around five-fold increase when compared to 2019 as a well YoY increase of 16% over H1 2023. VFS Global provides its VAYD services for 16 nations within India, including Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the UK.

“The preference for personalized services like VAYD has increased among travelers post-pandemic due to health reasons. These offerings improve the visa application process by providing additional comfort and convenience. We anticipate a growing demand for these premium services that emphasize secure travel within this year as well,” added Talwar.

VFS Global is the trusted partner to 52 sovereign governments in India and provides visa services on their behalf through a network of over 560 visa application centres spread across 19 cities. VFS Global’s role in the visa application process is limited to front-end administrative tasks only, which include collecting visa application forms, required documentation as per the checklist, and enrol biometrics, if applicable. VFS Global has no role in the decision-making process of granting or refusing a visa.

 

ixigo, AU Small Finance Bank launch RuPay variant of co-branded credit card

ixigo and AU Small Finance Bank, have launched the RuPay variant ofits premium co-branded ixigo-AU Small Finance Bank travel credit card, enabling UPI-based payments and rewards. This new offering is designed to bring enhanced benefits like greater convenience, wider reach, security and accessibility to modern travellers.

Building on the successful partnership of ixigo and AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB), the RuPay variant introduces a range of features tailored to meet the needs of travellers. Cardholders can link their RuPay credit card on UPI using any UPI payment app, enabling seamless credit card payments with UPI. Travellers will get 10 reward points on online UPI transactions and 5 reward points on offline UPI transactions. They will also have access to premium 24/7 concierge services, a comprehensive insurance cover of up to INR 2 Lakhs, including Personal Accident Insurance and Permanent Disability Cover, and various exclusive RuPay offers across dining, shopping, wellness, and entertainment.

The card also retains its existing benefits and core value proposition across all travel modes, including 10% discount on flights, buses and hotels and Zero PG charges on train booking via ixigo app, while offering additional benefits exclusive to RuPay cardholders. Cardholders will get 1000 reward points, Rs. 1000 ixigo money reward on completing their first transaction within 30 days, and a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% and 10% reward points on train transactions. Cardholders also enjoy Zero forex markup fee on international spends, complimentary 8 railway lounge access, 8 airport lounge access, and 1 International lounge access per year.

Commenting on the launch, Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO & Rajnish Kumar, Group Co-CEO, ixigo said, “We are excited to introduce the RuPay variant to the existing co-branded AU Small Finance Bank travel credit card. With seamless UPI integration and comprehensive insurance coverage, this card is designed to meet the evolving needs of modern travellers, especially those from tier 2,3 & 4 cities. By combining our travel expertise with AU SFB’s robust financial solutions, we aim to make travel more accessible and provide a smoother experience nationwide.”

Sanjay Agarwal, Founder and MD & CEO, AU Small Finance Bank, said, “Our partnership with ixigo continues to set new benchmarks in the travel industry, offering unparalleled benefits tailored for the modern traveller. This launch reaffirms our commitment to providing innovative and inclusive financial solutions to our customers. The RuPay variant will maintain exceptional travel rewards and bring the added advantage of RuPay’s extensive network, fulfilling the desires of aspiring Bharat. This move exemplifies our customer-centric approach as we continue to serve the diverse needs of our customers across Bharat.”

Nalin Bansal, Chief of Corporate, Fintech Relationships and Key Initiatives, NPCI, said, “We are happy to partner with ixigo and AU Small Finance Bank to provide travellers with an enhanced experience through exclusive rewards for RuPay cardholders. UPI-enabled RuPay credit cards combine the convenience of UPI with the benefits of credit cards. This aligns perfectly with our mission of expanding digital payments across India, making travel seamless and rewarding.”

A Lonely Child No More

By Rajeev Kohli, CIS, CITP, DMCP, Joint Managing Director, Creative Travel

I started this piece two weeks ago and am now finishing it after the news of a most horrific predatory attack on a female visitor to our country. My mind is now in a state of disgust, shock, and despair, wondering how uglier India can become. And so this affects our industry as well.

I am not a pessimist, nor am I a fatalist. Quite the contrary. I believe that we each control our fate and write our futures with our actions and thoughts, individually and collectively. I consistently hear the same chatter around the industry water cooler: Inbound is down. We have no government marketing and promotions. Hotel rates are up. Room availability is an issue. The conversations are loud and depressing.

The fact is clear: Inbound tourism is the lonely child.

The system has all but abandoned this segment. Hotel partners have somewhat turned their backs on us. The government has disowned the industry. Customer demand in overseas markets is at an all-time low. These are not observations but facts.

Should we then surrender, hold our heads in despair and wait for the Grim Reaper to take his bounty? Or shall we rather be bold, band together and fight back to regain our space in the tourism eco-system? I would much rather do the latter.

One thing is clear: actions by our national associations and tourism bodies have failed to move the government to take any action towards inbound tourism. I don’t expect that to change. We have been unable to get any respect for our contribution to the national GDP and foreign exchange reserves. Mark my words: 20 years from now, economists will mention the current shortsightedness in ignoring a healthy diversification of foreign reserves sources.

Here is what stakeholders in inbound tourism need to do.

First, talk to each other, to our clients, and to our local partners. We need to have open and deep discussions not only on our current state of affairs but also on what got us here. How did our industry lose the plot so badly? What missteps did we make? What role do our associations have in the situation, and how could we have been better members? Introspection is healthy. We must learn from the past and change our course for the future.

Let’s get into a room for a full day and talk it out. We leave our egos outside the door. Let our frustrations come out. These discussions will organically lead to answers. Healthy debate leads to great solutions. Right now, we are all running around like headless chickens trying to survive. Growth will never happen if we do not pause to understand.

Second, we need to accept two things.

One, domestic tourism is currently filling the needs of our hotel partners. There is nothing wrong with that. I, for one, am very grateful that domestic travellers allowed our hotels to survive during the pandemic and that our tourism infrastructure emerged unscathed. This is very different from what happened in the West when hospitality assets shut down en mass. This market will organically see a shift in spending patterns and habits, and the balance will return. When I don’t know, but the laws of economics state it will. Sacrosanct.

Second, the Government of India just doesn’t care. They saw the low-hanging fruit of domestic travellers where they had to do very little work, letting the states do the heavy lifting. There is no accountability, no one to question what is and is not being done. Therefore, there is no reason for us even to think things will change in the short to medium term.

The private sector needs to finally put their hands in their pockets and create a private sector marketing fund. Even if each one of us gives 0.5% of our top line, that adds up to something better than nothing. As small as that may be compared to the government spending, it will be enough to make credible actions online. We need to get our national inbound association to release the money it is hoarding to help bring back the industry. There is no defensible reason for them to sit on crores when their core segment needs help.

We must create a private sector crisis management team to help combat the negative press. The recent attack on the Spanish visitor has brought back the tremors of the Nirbhaya case of 2012. Yet we learned nothing. It’s De Ja Vu in its entirety. We have no crisis management policy, no voice or statement to counter or address the news. As the private sector, we have no official stance to say anything. Today, India is ashamed. Our claim to Incredible India stands in ruins today. The lack of reaction is all on us. No action is equally complacent to the horror. Rule # 1 of crisis management is to be present, forward-facing, and honest. Unfortunately, we have none of those characteristics in those who govern or lead. So, let’s now learn and do it on our own.

I can go on and on. But for now, these are just a few things we can do independently. Without asking for anyone’s permission or help. What’s stopping us?

Stay positive. We have been at the low before, but we always come out on top. It’s our perseverance as an industry. I am proud of all of you for that. I shall be a lonely child no longer! I can no longer sit quietly. So, watch out for an email from me.

Happy to get feedback and thoughts on this issue. rajeevkohli@creative.travel

How Amusement Parks Are Turbocharging Local Tourism and Economy

The phrase “amusement parks” conjures up images of our own childhood memories in our mind. For more than a century, amusement parks have been a mainstay of entertainment, thousands of people visit these parks every year, which provide a variety of attractions like water slides and roller coasters. Only in the last 20 years, with the advent of globalisation and an increase in consumer disposable income, has the idea of theme parks and amusement parks experienced a significant upsurge in popularity in India.

The ever-changing social and economic landscape, along with demographics, are significant factors influencing demand for amusement parks. They have an impact on consumer behavior, therefore to guarantee customer pleasure, any business must choose the appropriate group of target customers in order to convert a happy customer into a devoted one and eventually into a product or service. According to a report by FICCI – KPMG, the amusement park industry in India is growing rapidly. In 2019, the industry generated over Rs. 5,000 crore (USD 625 million) in revenue and employed over 250,000 people. A higher standard of living is also made possible by the type of work, as well as the many training programs linked to services. When a well-known amusement park is open, demand for local stores, restaurants, lodging, and transportation all increases. Suppliers who supply the park with goods and services are also included in the economic stimulation, resulting in a network of interconnected business connections that may promote sustainable growth.

India’s magical theme parks not only entertain visitors, but also are essential to the vibrant role of our changing economy and culture. Imagine an environment where happiness is the primary focus, where there is a bustle of activity, laughter from families, and delight from children. This magical atmosphere isn’t only the result of thrilling rides and attractions—rather, it’s engrained in the various consumer behaviours and demographics that define our global nation.

Amidst this fanciful realm, businesses find themselves at a crossroads where it becomes imperative to properly identify their target audience. The objective is to create an experience that transforms a satisfied client into a loyal follower and, eventually, an enthusiastic ambassador for the business, rather than just providing a brief distraction.

Here are some of the key impacts:
Job Creation: Amusement parks create employment opportunities, ranging from entry-level positions to skilled jobs in areas such as maintenance, operations, and management. Furthermore, Amusement parks also have a knock-on effect on the local economy. An increase in parks contributes to the neighbourhood’s infrastructure development.

Learning Experiences: Often incorporate educational elements into their attractions, providing visitors with opportunities to learn about science, history, and other subjects in an interactive and engaging manner.

Tourist Spending: Visitors to amusement parks contribute to the local economy by spending money on tickets, food, merchandise, and other services. This injection of tourism dollars can have a positive multiplier effect on the community.

Improved Infrastructure: The presence of a popular amusement park may stimulate improvements in local infrastructure, including roads, transportation systems, and utilities, to accommodate the increased influx of visitors.

Diverse Visitor Base: Amusement parks attract a diverse audience, bringing people from different regions and even countries. This cultural exchange can enrich the local community and promote understanding between different cultures.

In conclusion, amusement parks are major drivers of the local economy and greatly enhance the well-being of the communities they serve. It is impossible to overstate their contribution to local economic stimulation, employment creation, and tourism promotion. Despite certain operational difficulties, amusement parks continue to have a very beneficial overall economic influence on local and regional communities. These attractions’ contribution to economic growth will probably continue to be an engaging story in the years to come as they develop and grow. They bring in money, support neighbourhood companies, create jobs, pay taxes, draw tourists, and enhance the standard of living. Any nation or area that wishes to increase tourism might benefit greatly from having amusement parks.