- Visa applications in India in H1 2024 (January to June 2024) exceeded the H1 2019 volumes by 2%. The YoY increase during the same period was 11%.
- Acceptance of personalised services such as Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) recorded four-fold rise against 2019; YoY increase of 16%.
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, Chief Operating Officer – (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 website 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).
VFS Global noted a significant increase in the demand for personalised services such as Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD). 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.
“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 reports India’s H1 2024 visa applications surpass pre-pandemic levels by 2%
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