Tag Archives: Schengen

Visit Qatar conducts two-city roadshow & networking events in India

Visit Qatar has concluded its two-city roadshow in New Delhi and Mumbai.

The event brought together 25 key partners, providing an exclusive platform to engage with over 200 of India’s top travel agents and tour operators. This initiative showcased Qatar’s versatile appeal, catering to a wide range of travellers – from leisure seekers to business tourists, highlighting the country’s diverse tourism offerings.

Qatar’s proximity to India, combined with Qatar Airways’ extensive global network and visa-free policy for Indian nationals with a Discover Qatar accommodation voucher, further enhances its appeal as a top destination in the Middle East. Additionally, Indians holding a valid visa from any one of the following countries – USA, UK, Schengen, Australia, New Zealand, Canada can avail for the Hayya A3 visa and arrive in Qatar with a pre-approved electronic travel authorisation.

The roadshow featured a line-up of partners, including 15 leading hotels such as The St. Regis Doha, Marsa Malaz Kempinski – The Pearl, Waldorf Astoria Lusail Doha, Mandarin Oriental Doha, The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa, Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas, Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, Le Royal Méridien Doha, W Doha, The Outpost Al Barari, Rixos Qetaifan Island North, Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park, Our Habitas Ras Abrouq, Radisson Blu Hotel and Rosewood Doha. Additionally, 10 destination management companies (DMCs) participated, including Discover Qatar, Tawfeeq Holidays, Q Moments, Travel Designer, Qatar International Tours, Regency Holidays, Mannai Air Travel, Ali Bin Ali Holidays, Satguru Travel and Experience Qatar.

In a significant move to promote Qatar’s MICE offerings, Visit Qatar hosted its inaugural corporate networking evening in Mumbai. The event brought together over 25 leading corporate representatives from sectors including Banking, Finance, Insurance, Automotive, Pharmaceuticals, Cement and Paints. Eight of Doha’s most prominent hotels, including Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas, The St. Regis Doha, Marsa Malaz Kempinski – The Pearl, Radisson Blu Hotel, Rosewood Doha, W Doha, Waldorf Astoria Lusail Doha, and The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa, presented their MICE capabilities, showcasing Qatar’s potential as a foremost destination for corporate events.

The evening fostered productive networking, strengthening connections between Qatari hospitality providers and key Indian corporate decision-makers.

Qatar’s appeal to Indian travellers is evident in the sharp increase in arrivals over the past few years, with numbers rising from 166,000 in 2021 to 420,000 in 2023. This year alone, Visit Qatar has successfully managed 12 MICE groups from India, with a strong pipeline for the coming year, including a significant incentive group of 2,600 corporate guests set to visit next month. As Qatar continues to expand and diversify its offerings, it is well on its way to becoming a top destination for both leisure and business travellers from India.

Germany slash Visa processing time for skilled Indian workers

 

Germany is urgently seeking skilled workers, leading the country to fast-track visa applications for Indian nationals. According to Schengen News, the waiting time for Indian applicants has been reduced to just two weeks. Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, emphasised the importance of this move, stating that the Federal Agency for Foreign Affairs operates the world’s largest visa office for national visas and that the country desperately needs skilled workers to support its economy.

This push to attract foreign talent is reflected in the rising number of visas issued. Between January and June 2024, Germany granted 80,000 employment-related visas, with half of them going to skilled workers. This figure represents a 3,000 increase compared to the same period in 2023, underscoring the country’s commitment to bringing in qualified professionals from abroad.

For Indian skilled workers looking to move to Germany, the process has become more accessible. Applicants must ensure they meet eligibility criteria, such as holding a recognised qualification, securing a job offer from a German employer, and potentially proving German language proficiency. The streamlined application process involves gathering the necessary documents, booking an appointment at the German Embassy or Consulate in India, and following post-arrival steps like registering their address and applying for a residence permit.

Germany’s appeal as a destination for Indian professionals and students has grown significantly. Factors such as affordability, a robust education system, simplified visa procedures, and numerous English-taught programs have made Germany a popular choice. The country has seen a 107% increase in Indian students over the past four years, further solidifying its status as an attractive destination for both work and education.

Finnair to Open Expansive New Lounge at Helsinki Airport’s Schengen Area on July 09

Finnair is further enhancing its customer experience with the upcoming launch of its new Finnair Lounge on July 9th. Situated on the Schengen side of Helsinki Airport, close to gate 21, the lounge aims to offer travellers unmatched comfort and convenience.

“We are delighted to announce the opening of our new Schengen lounge, providing even more space and comfort before take-off. Responding to the feedback from Finnair Plus tier members, the lounge features also an exclusive Finnair Platinum Corner for Finnair Plus Platinum and Platinum Lumo members to enjoy,” said Ole Orvér, Chief Commercial Officer, Finnair.

The new Finnair Business Lounge can be accessed by Business Class Classic and Flex ticket holders, and Finnair Plus Gold members. Lounge access can also be purchased as a travel extra during ticket booking, via Manage booking, or through the Finnair app.

“With increased space, the new Finnair Lounge comfortably accommodates up to 440 guests, which is about 150 seats more than the current lounge. Different spaces within the lounge are tailored to various needs: dining, working, resting and spending time with your travel companions,” said Meri Järvinen, Head of Airport Customer Experience.

The lounge’s design, led by Studio Joanna Laajisto, captures the essence of the Nordics: peaceful, natural, and inviting. Wooden textures, soft forms, and warm colours reflect the Finnish landscape’s serenity. Furniture from renowned Nordic design brands, such as Artek, Nikari, and Gubi, adds a touch of local craftsmanship to the setting. The new lounge offers spectacular views of the runway and the airport gate area.

Mexican Consulate starts issuing multiple-entry visas in Mumbai

Mexico has started issues visas to Indian nationals in Mumbai since April, having opened the Consulate last year.

Shedding light on this, Adolfo García Estrada, Consul General of Mexico in Mumbai, said, “Any Indian national wanting to visit Mexico, holding a valid UK, USA, Canada, Schengen or Japan visa doesn’t need to apply for a visa. For others, one can apply for a Mexican visa at the Consulate in Mumbai or the Embassy in New Delhi. It is a multiple-entry visa with six months validity. The visa fee is USD 53, and we take around 10 working days of processing time.”

He was talking to TravelBiz Monitor at an event hosted by the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) Western Region along with Global Destinations for the members to familiarise them with Mexico and its tourist offerings.

Addressing members, Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI, said, “It was interesting to learn about Mexico and how it is a new destination that Indians can explore. Likewise, we hope, citizens of Mexico visit India and explore our vast country, to see the sheer variety we have to offer.”

Currently, Indian nationals can reach Mexico via Dubai or Istanbul hubs. “The establishment of direct air access depends on the demand,” the CG said. The popular destinations are Mexico City and Cancun.

At the event, Global Destinations, which represents Mexican DMC ‘Trip to Mexico’, gave a presentation about the opportunities for FITs to explore the nation.

Rising demand for Schengen Visas leads to shortage of interview slots

 

Last year, Schengen countries received the third-highest number of visa applications from India, totaling 970,000, marking a 44% increase from 670,000 in 2022. Among the top five countries, India saw the second-highest rise in visa applications after China, with Morocco and Turkey following suit, as reported by the European Commission. However, this surge has led to significant obstacles for many Indian travellers due to the unavailability of visa interview slots, disrupting their travel plans.

Anil Kalsi, Vice-President, Travel Agents Federation of India, told the Times of India, “Appointments are simply not available with a majority of Schengen countries. If you want to travel to Europe this summer, the earliest appointment date for Germany and Italy is in July. This is making life very difficult for travellers. Rules require people to apply to the consulate of the country which will be their primary destination in Europe. But people are forced to opt for any country that has an appointment available for a visa in time.”

According to travel experts in India, the real demand for Schengen visas is likely much higher than the official numbers suggest. However, due to the lack of available visa interview slots, many Indians who wished to travel were unable to even apply for Schengen visas.

China and Russia have experienced different dynamics. China, having opened its borders for international travel just last year, saw a significant surge in demand, jumping from 22nd place in 2022 to the top of the table in 2023. It recorded the highest increase, a remarkable 1,104%, indicating a tenfold rise in applications compared to the previous year.

Russia, on the other hand, slipped from rank 2 in 2022 to rank 5 in 2023, mainly due to the war in Ukraine and the ensuing sanctions. Russian Schengen visa applications fell 25% over the past two years.

Several travel agents have complained to the Visa Facilitation Services (VFS) but have not received any responses. A VFS Global spokesperson told TOI, “Visa decision timelines are entirely at the discretion of the respective embassies/consulates. We urge travellers to plan travel early to avoid last-minute surprises. Most countries accept visa applications up to 90 days (3 months) before the date of travel.” According to the revised Schengen Visa Code, effective February 2, 2020, you can apply for a Schengen visa up to 6 months before your date of travel.”

Until recently, European Union policy allowed the issuance of short-term visas to frequent visitors, which involved reapplying repeatedly. This policy has not changed, TOI reported.

The Schengen visa zone includes 25 EU member states along with four non-EU countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The EU member states are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

Visa applications in India this year set to surpass 2019 record

The number of visa applications filed in India this calendar year is all set to cross pre-pandemic 2019 levels. This despite the continuing crunch for two major destinations, the US and Schengen states, which have long interview wait times and appointment count capping, respectively, and sky-high airfares.

VFS Global, which manages visa applications for more than 50 countries, says it has from January to June 2023 processed well over 30 lakh visa applications in India as opposed to 60 lakh in 2019, which had faced none of the challenges currently being seen. Incidentally, 2019 was a record year for visa lodgements in India, which 2023 is now all set to better.

“We are expecting to surpass pre-pandemic visa application volumes by the end of this calendar year. There has been a robust rebound in outbound travel sentiments. Despite initial scepticism, the level of bounce-back has resulted in a demand-supply gap,” said Prabuddha Sen, VFS Global COO (South Asia) . International airfares have refused to drop after the 2021-22 reopening of borders globally. It is not uncommon to find what once used to be return fare is now just the one-way price. Despite this crunch, the demand is back. (Source TOI)