Tag Archives: Service

BLS International signs sontract with Poland Embassy for visa outsourcing in the Philippines

BLS International has signeda significant contract with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in the Philippines to provide comprehensive visa outsourcing services. This agreement marks a milestone in enhancing the visa application process for travellers to Poland from the Philippines.

Under this partnership, BLS International will play a pivotal role in managing Poland’s visa processing operations, optimising efficiency, and enhancing the overall experience for applicants. The scope of the service includes handling both Schengen and National visa applications. Applicants can submit their applications for Polish Schengen and national visas at two dedicated visa centers located in Manila and Cebu.

Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director of BLS International, said, “We are elated to announce this pivotal partnership with the Embassy of Poland, a milestone that underscores our global mission to revolutionize the visa application process. This contract enables us to deliver our advanced visa services in the Philippines, reinforcing our dedication to simplifying international travel. With our unparalleled expertise and innovative technology, we are fully equipped to support the Embassy’s goals, ensuring travellers a superior and effortless experience.”

Malaysia Airlines, Tourism Malaysia Host Successful Hospitality Event at Lulu Mall, Trivandrum

Malaysia Airlines and Tourism Malaysia successfully concluded a two-day immersive event at Lulu Mall, Trivandrum, from March 2 to 3, 2024. This joint effort event aimed at promoting Malaysia as a top-tier tourist destination, artfully conveyed the essence of Malaysian Hospitality while highlighting the country’s rich cultural heritage.

Hosted by RJ Anwin from Radio Mirchi, the event offered an array of engaging activities for customers, ranging from quizzes and giveaways to traditional Malaysian board games, Lion Dance, and a 360-degree photo booth. Committed to serving as the gateway to Asia and beyond, Malaysia Airlines showcased a multitude of direct connectivity options for Indian travellers, urging them to plan a trip to experience the wonders of Malaysia.

Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer of Airlines from Malaysia Aviation Group, expressed his satisfaction with the event’s outcome, stating, “As we reflect on our recent successful collaboration with Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines reaffirms its commitment to showcasing Malaysian Hospitality in every experience. Our presence at Trivandrum’s Lulu Mall wasn’t just about showcasing our services, but also about inviting travellers to immerse themselves in Malaysia’s rich culture, diversity, and cuisine. Furthermore, our goal is to bridge cultures and connect people with Malaysian Hospitality as our guiding principle, ensuring that every encounter with Malaysia Airlines is an unforgettable experience.”

Razaidi Abdul Rahim, Director-Tourism Malaysia Chennai (South India & Sri Lanka) said, “We are delighted to share the resounding success of our recent Mall Activation Event at Lulu Mall, Trivandrum, a testament to Malaysia’s vibrant tourism and warm hospitality. The event not only showcased the immense opportunities in Malaysia but also created an immersive and unforgettable experience for the visitors. As the Director of Tourism Malaysia Chennai, I extend my gratitude to Malaysia Airlines, and to all participants who made this a grand success. Together, we have not only promoted tourism in Malaysia, but have also crafted lasting memories that will inspire travellers to explore our culturally rich and picturesque country!”

In light of the Malaysian government’s announcement regarding the 30-day visa-free entry for Indian visitors until 31 December 2024, Malaysia Airlines has recently extended its Holiday Special Sale for passengers flying from its newly launched routes – Amritsar (ATQ), Ahmedabad (AMD) and Trivandrum (TRV). Valid until 22 March 2024, the sale offers enticing all-in return fares, starting at INR 12,999 for Economy Class and INR 37,999 for Business Class, for immediate travel up to 30 November 2024.

Furthermore, the event showcased Malaysia Airline’s innovative “Bonus Side Trip” programme, which allows passengers to enjoy a complimentary side trip to any of Malaysia Airlines’ domestic (peninsular) destinations during their transit journey, significantly enhancing the travel experience.

VFS Global Wins Seven Global Contracts in 2023, Reinforcing Its Global Leadership

Including new global contract with the Government of UK for services across 142 countries, and global contracts with Governments of Australia, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Iceland and Austria

VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, significantly added to its business footprint in 2023. Building on its trusted partnership, the company won seven global contracts from the governments of the UK, Australia, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Iceland and Austria.

Among the most significant wins of 2023 was being awarded a global contract for UK visas and citizenship services. In 2024, VFS Global will deploy 240 Visa and Citizenship Application Service (VCAS) Centres for the UK in 142 countries across Africa & Middle East, Americas, Australasia & Europe, China & Taiwan, and Asia & Asia Pacific regions catering to an estimated 3.8 million applicants every year, aiding cross border mobility. This is a significant win also because the contract awards VFS Global with 84 new countries of service for UK Visas and Citizenship Service in addition to the 58 countries that VFS Global already serve.

Another major contract for the visa service provider was the global biometric collection service awarded by the Department of Home Affairs, Australia across seven regions comprising Americas, Mekong, Middle East and North Africa, North Asia, Pacific, South Asia and Southeast Asia. According to the agreement, VFS Global’s core services include Biometric Collection and Identity Verification, Digital Assistance with online visa applications submission and Online Payment Assistance on the Department’s ImmiAccount portal.

Similarly, the Swedish Ministry of Justice and the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have awarded global tenders to provide Sweden visa services in 37 countries, and Norway visa and residence permit services in 52 countries respectively. Earlier in the year, Latvia, Iceland and Austria too renewed the global visa services mandates with VFS Global.

“These significant contract wins are a testament of our trusted partnership with these client governments and our commitment to customer service excellence. It is also an opportunity to contribute to a larger purpose of restoring travellers’ confidence through technology-led, seamless, highly secure and reliable solutions and playing a key role in reviving global travel momentum,” said Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global.

In 2024, VFS Global will continue to focus on enhancing customer service and business excellence through investments in human capital development and technology.

U.P. introduces new classification system for hotels, resorts

To bolster Uttar Pradesh’s tourism and hospitality sector, the state tourism department initiated a novel star hotel classification portal in Lucknow.

This fresh system categorizes hotels and resorts across five tiers—platinum, diamond, gold, silver, and bronze. Minister Jaiveer Singh, overseeing tourism and culture, announced the launch at the Tourism Department Directorate. Singh emphasized that the classification would be based on quality, services, overall facilities, and guest experiences, aiming to propel the hotel business forward.

Singh highlighted the multi-faceted advantages of this classification system, noting that hotels meeting the criteria would enjoy various incentives, subsidies, and industry-standard tax benefits, amplifying their recognition and support within the industry.

Emphasizing the system’s advantages, the minister stressed its goal of enhancing the state’s hospitality industry by increasing the availability of hotel rooms. He further noted that hotels and resorts offering superior facilities would be eligible for subsidies and incentives aligned with industry standards.

Singh said, Uttar Pradesh is known for its cultural heritage, historical places and vibrant cities. The state government is continuously promoting the tourism industry. The new revised classification system of platinum, diamond, gold, silver and bronze, which are the traditional star ratings of the hotel industry, correspond to 5 Star, 4 Star, 3 Star, 2 Star and 1 Star classification of the hotels, he said.

The revised classification of the hotels will simplify the selection process for tourists. This will also encourage higher service standards among hotels, he said.

Tourism minister said, for the hotel industry to participate in the ranking system and to get more details about the new classification system, the UP Tourism Department has launched a dedicated online portal where one can apply for the new classification system with minimum requisite fee.

Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation will be the nodal agency for the implementation of the new classification system in the state. The new classification will attract more tourists and promote investment in the hospitality sector of the state, he said.

CSMIA sets new record with 1,032 Air Traffic Movements on Nov 11

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) soared to new heights over the Diwali weekend, witnessing a substantial surge in passenger traffic.

From November 11 to 13, the airport recorded a remarkable 516,562 passenger movements, setting a festive record.

On November 11, CSMIA also achieved a new single-day record by handling 1,032 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs).

“The festive period saw a surge in travel, and CSMIA managed a total of 516,562 passenger movements from November 11th to 13th. Among these, 354,541 passengers travelled on domestic routes, while 162,021 embarked on international journeys,” CSMIA authorities said in a statement.
“The extended Diwali holiday contributed to the increased passenger traffic, reflecting the airport’s significance as a key travel hub,” they said.

According to officials, CSMIA played host to a total of 2,894 ATMs during the Diwali weekend (from November 11 to 13), comprising 2,137 domestic flights and 757 international flights. The top domestic destinations included Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai, while internationally, Dubai, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore were among the preferred choices for travellers.

The record-breaking day on November 11th saw CSMIA catering to a total of 161,419 passengers, with 107,765 on domestic flights and 53,680 on international flights. This influx highlights CSMIA’s capability to manage increased air traffic with precision, all while maintaining high standards of safety, security, and passenger service,” authorities said in a statement.

flydubai launches daily services to Cairo

flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, announced the launch of flights to Cairo. The daily flight to Cairo’s Sphinx International Airport (SPX) starts from 28 October 2023 and will support the growing demand for travel between Cairo and Dubai.

With the launch of daily flights to Cairo, the carrier will serve the Egyptian market with a total of 17 weekly flights, including the daily operations to Alexandria Borg El Arab International Airport (HBE). flydubai’s network in Africa has grown to 12 destinations with the latest addition of Cairo as well as Mombasa to its expanding network.
Commenting on the launch, Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer, said, “We are pleased to announce the start of operations to Cairo from October. flydubai is committed to creating free flows of trade and tourism between countries and enabling more people to travel conveniently and more often. I would like to thank the authorities for their support in launching operations to Cairo’s Sphinx International Airport, and we look forward to growing the traffic on this new entry point to the city over the years.”

Sphinx International Airport is located on the road between Cairo and Alexandria, forty-five kilometres from the pyramids of Giza. The new airport serves the residents of the Greater Cairo districts as well as the governorates of Fayoum and Beni Suif. Sphinx International Airport is a short drive from Egypt’s main historical and archaeological sites and facilitates connections with the Red Sea resorts including Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada.

Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent), flydubai, said: “Egypt is a very important market for flydubai. The new daily service will provide our passengers from the UAE, GCC and CIS regions with more options for travel to Cairo through Dubai’s aviation hub. The flights to Cairo will complement our daily services to Alexandria and provide passengers with a greater choice whether they are travelling in Business or Economy. Passengers will get to experience the added comfort and enhanced travel experience offered on our Boeing 737 MAX, which will be scheduled to operate on this route for the first time. We are confident this will be a popular destination and we look forward to growing our operations to meet the increasing demand.”

flydubai has created an expanding network of more than 115 destinations in 53 countries across Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Central and South-East Europe, the GCC and the Middle East, and the Indian Subcontinent. The Dubai-based carrier operates a young and efficient fleet of 79 Boeing 737 aircraft offering passengers a convenient and enjoyable travel experience. Passengers can expect more space and comfort in Business Class as well as internationally-inspired menus and hours of immersive inflight entertainment.