Maintaining its trusted partnership with the Thai government, VFS Global, the leading outsourcing and technology services provider for governments and diplomatic missions globally, has once again secured the contract to handle visa applications for Thailand from India. The company will cater to travellers from India across visa categories through visa application centres and drop off centres as per the jurisdiction of the Royal Thai Embassy in Delhi and Royal Thai Consulate General in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai. VFS Global has been working with the Government of Thailand for nearly two decades and has handled over 2.1 million Thai visa applications since 2005. Applications are accepted at VFS Global visa application centres in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Pune from Monday to Friday. More details are available on the website – https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/tha/attend-centre VFS Global also offers drop box services to tier 2 cities such as Agra, Amritsar, Dehradun, Jaipur, Ludhiana, Guwahati, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Jamshedpur and Siliguri. “The renewal of the Thai visa contract highlights VFS Global’s business excellence, dedication to enhancing customer experience, and the strong trust from the 69 governments we partner with, including Thailand,” said Yummi Talwar, COO – South Asia, VFS Global.

India’s love affair with Switzerland just got more intense as more Indian tourists begin to explore the beautiful Alpine country not just during the summer months, but through seasons like autumn and winter too. With a  rapidly changing profile, Indian tourists are now exploring off beat destinations, off peak seasons, more adventure, more luxury as well as local culture which is exactly in line with Switzerland Tourism’s long term strategy for long haul destinations. At a recently held meet organised by Switzerland Tourism, at Martin Maier, Consulate General’s Residence in Mumbai, CEO, Switzerland Tourism, Martin Nydegger; Christian Schoch, Director India, Switzerland Tourism, and Ritu Sharma, Deputy Director and Marketing Head – India, Switzerland Tourism threw light on the diversity of the country across seasons. Traditionally, Indian tourists have preferred summer as their go-to season, especially amongst families, due to school holidays. Most Indian travellers usually travel to Switzerland in the May-June period to also escape the heat in India. However, over the past few years, there has been a change in preferences as well as the profile of the typical tourist, who is now travelling to Switzerland throughout the year. Moreover, a second peak is being seen in the autumn and early winter seasons. The profile of the Indian tourist has evolved with couples, friends and solo travellers also growing along with the more typical family traveller. These travellers are now open to travelling to Switzerland in Autumn to see the changing colours of Fall, and also during their winter holidays, to especially enjoy local Christmas markets and other winter experiences (not necessarily skiing but sledging, snow-shoeing, etc.)

Bintan Resorts and VFS Global recently orchestrated an engaging familiarisation trip for the Indian travel trade media fraternity to experience the allure of Bintan, an Indonesian island 60 minutes’ ferry ride away from the shores of Singapore. Six travel journalists were immersed in the destination’s opulence and adventure, from its diverse accommodations to its thrilling activities. The aim was for them to experience and then share stories of their escapades with their readers. In promoting the ‘Fly, Stay, Ferry’ concept, VFS Global is positioning Bintan as a premier extension of a Singapore visit. Travelers can enjoy a vibrant city break in Singapore and then unwind with a peaceful island escape in Bintan. With convenient visa-on-arrival facilities for Indians at Bandar Bentan Telani (BBT) Ferry Terminal, Bintan is poised to welcome families, young Indian travelers, MICE groups, weddings, and celebrations, offering warm hospitality and memorable experiences

Union Minister of Tourism & Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, speaking at the G20 Ministerial meet in Brazil, emphasized the role of tourism and culture in sustainable socio-economic development and nature positive tourism. He stressed on the need for tourism policies to focus on inclusion and resilience, in line with India’s theme: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

Booking.com’s latest study on the evolving travel trends among Indian travellers reveals a fascinating connection between popular movies, TV shows and social media with travel inspirations. 44% of Indians turn to their favourite films and series for travel ideas. Whether it’s indulging in a dish featured in a popular show or visiting iconic landmarks made famous on screen, the influence is undeniable. With the significant role of social media in shaping travel choices, 66% of Indian travellers are using platforms like Instagram and Facebook to find their next adventure. The journey from inspiration to reality is becoming more seamless and personalised.

VisitBritain aims to support tourism businesses that are focused on sustainable technologies and innovation in the travel industry between the UK and India. Some great initiatives already available for visitors travelling to the UK are smart accommodations that streamline the entire accommodation experience, virtual tours (through VR and AR) of UK destinations, hotel rooms, walk through of historical sites and iconic attractions, locally sourced seasonal F&B, AI powered travel assistants, and accessible public transport through British Rail network. Accepting the award was Vishal Bhatia, Country Manager India of VisitBritain, said, “I am absolutely thrilled to receive the award for the Best Tourism Board for Experiential Travel at the India Travel Awards in Mumbai! A big thank you to our trade partners for their continuous support. Special shoutout to our incredible India team for the support and guidance.”

Join an exclusive festivals #InAbuDhabi webinar today at 3 PM IST. Explore the vibrant festivals and cultural events happening in Abu Dhabi, offering insights into the region’s rich traditions. For more details, contact Jaspreet Kaur at +91 9650196532 or jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com.

Melange 2024, that took place in Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre over two days, saw an overwhelming response from exhibitors, visitors, and invitees alike. With the aim to bring purely B2B agents to exhibit at this show, the exhibition brought together a diverse range of participants from various segments of the trade. The MTF team gave its best effort to plan and deliver an exceptional event, and is grateful for the faith and positive feedback that has been shown by the trade. Pradeep Saboo, Co-organiser of Melange, says, “While we are proud of the event’s success, we also acknowledge that there were a few minor challenges, and we are committed to taking lessons from them to improve future editions. Your faith and confidence in Mélange have been the key to our achievements, and we will continue to improve with every edition.” The MTF team, that has Pradeep Saboo, Sameer Karnani and Rajat Bagaria at its helm, is pleased to announce the dates for Mélange 2025, scheduled for 20th & 21st September 2025. The event will take place at the soon-to-be-unveiled state-of-the-art exhibition space at NESCO, promising an even grander, high-tech experience for both exhibitors and visitors. As a token of appreciation, the MTF team is offering special pre-registration rates for exhibitors who register before 30th September 2024.

With ₹812 crore budget being sanctioned in the Union Budget for tourism budget in Odisha, Pravati Parida, Dy. CM & Tourism Minister, Odisha has said that they want to develop Odisha as a hub for sustainable tourism. “We are planning eco-friendly stays and eco-tourism projects in Bhitarkanika, Deomali, Similipal, and Konark,” she revealed.

Collinson International’s 2024 Travel Benefits & Engagement report reveals that millennials in India are spending as high as USD 6,031 per annum on travel – the highest when compared to other generations. Travel is one of the highest credit card spend categories for survey respondents in India, accounting for almost a third (27%) of annual expenditure.