07. Awards and
Events

(Left to right) Arnold Donald, Chairperson WTTC, Julia Simpson, President & CEO WTTC and Hariprasad Viswanathan, Head—Sub-Saharan Africa VFS Global, at the launch of the Africa report in collaboration with VFS Global at in Rwanda

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in collaboration with VFS Global, unveiled a new report on the travel and tourism sector in Africa at the Global Annual Summit, which was held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 1-3 November.

According to the report, ‘Unlocking Opportunities for Travel & Tourism Growth in Africa’, the sector could add US$168BN to the continent’s economy and create over 18 million new jobs. This potential growth is dependent on three key policies to unlock annualised growth of 6.5 per cent, reaching a contribution of more than US$ 350BN.The report includes a policy package focused on improving Africa’s growth based on air infrastructure, visa facilitation and tourism marketing.

Travel and tourism is a powerhouse sector in Africa, with a contribution of more than US$ 186BN to the region's economy in 2019, welcoming 84 million international travellers. Speaking at the Global Summit, Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said, “Africa’s travel and tourism sector has witnessed an extraordinary transformation. In just two decades, it has more than doubled in value, significantly contributing to the continent's economy.

The growth potential in Africa is massive. It has already more than doubled since 2000, and with the right policies could unlock an additional US$168 billion in the next decade. Africa needs simplified visa processes, better air connectivity within the continent, and marketing campaigns to highlight the wealth of destinations in this breathtaking continent.

According to Zubin Karkaria, Founder & CEO, VFS Global, “We are excited to partner with WTTC to uncover the extensive opportunities that travel and tourism offers in Africa. Having established our presence in Africa since 2005, we are, today, the trusted partner of 38 governments who we serve across 55 cities in 35 countries in Africa. VFS Global recognises the tremendous potential of Africa and remains deeply committed to supporting the continuing development of travel and tourism to and from the continent. This report not only highlights the diverse prospects for economic growth, sustainable tourism, and cross-cultural collaboration but also provides valuable insights for governments to formulate policies and offers businesses a well-defined roadmap for expansion in this thriving market.”

Cyber security and data protection continue to remain top priorities for us at VFS Global. In recognition of our consistent efforts, we recently received the Cyber Essentials Plus Certificate from the UK National Cyber Security Centre. This certificate is issued after a thorough technical verification is conducted.

Maansi Sharma, DGM - Corporate Communications & CSR, MENA (second from left), and Rashmi Chandnani, Manager - Tourism Services Operations & Business Development (fourth from left), collected the award on behalf of VFS Global

VFS Global won the ‘Best Visa Outsourcing Company’ at the Arabian Travel Awards 2023, which was held in Dubai, UAE. Maansi Sharma, DGM - Corporate Communications & CSR, MENA, and Rashmi Chandnani, Manager - Tourism Services Operations & Business Development, collected the award on behalf of the organisation.

Ria Vaidya, SGM - Corporate Communications & CSR (second from right), and Maansi Sharma, DGM - Corporate Communications & CSR, MENA (first from right), received the award on behalf of VFS Global

VFS Global won a Special Recognition at the Arabia CSR Awards 2023 for our community efforts in the MENA region. Ria Vaidya, SGM - Corporate Communications & CSR, and Maansi Sharma,DGM-Corporate Communications & CSR, MENA, received the award in Dubai on 2 October.

Ria Vaidya, SGM - Corporate Communications & CSR, receives the award on behalf of the organisation

VFS Global recently won the ‘Brand Reputation Management Team of the Year’ award at the Corp Comm Vision & Innovation Summit 2023, for our collective efforts in building, safeguarding, and enhancing our brand’s reputation. The award ceremony was held on 11 August in Mumbai, India.

The acting CEO of Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment (MBRHE), Omar Bu Shihab, was recently praised by Dubai’s Leadership for delivering excellent customer service to UAE citizens. VFS Global mans the MBRHE's customer service area. As a mark of recognition of our impeccable service, we received a certificate of appreciation from MBRHE.

The ISO 27001:2013 certificate

VFS Global has achieved ISO 27001:2013 certification for UK operations, which is the internationally recognised standard for Information Security Management Systems. The external independent assessment was conducted by BSI, the UKAS accredited certification body.

Dignitaries at the networking event in Johannesburg

The Consulate General of India, in collaboration with VFS Global, hosted a meet-and-greet event at our India Visa Application Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 4 October, to celebrate the success of the Incredible India campaign. This networking event brought together dignitaries from diplomatic corporations, media houses, and businesses.

VFS Global’s stall at the Gulf News Edufair

VFS Global participated in the Gulf News Edufair to promote our Visa At Your Doorstep and Premium Lounge services to students who are looking to study abroad. The three-day event, which was held in Dubai in June, witnessed over 1,200 visitors.

Representatives from local embassies and consulates at the annual golf event in Johannesburg

We hosted our annual golf event at The Club in Steyn City, Johannesburg, on 3 October. Following the four-ball matches, participants, which included representatives from the local Embassies and Consulates, enthusiastically cheered for the day's winners at the prize distribution ceremony and made the most of the occasion by unwinding and networking.

Dignitaries at the networking event in Shanghai

VFS Global hosted a networking event followed by dinner which was attended by representatives of 19 client governments from 14 countries at Shanghai Jiushi Commercial Building VAC on 8 September.

Dignitaries at the networking event in Beijing

On 11 October, we hosted a cocktail and dinner event in Beijing, which was attended by representatives from 21 client governments. Members of VFS Global Board and senior leadership were also present.

Representatives from VFS Global with other dignitaries at the event

As part of our travel trade outreach, VFS Global partnered with the Enterprising Travel Agents Association for an interactive evening on 12 October in Mumbai. Vishal Jairath, Head - South Asia, Visa Operations, addressed the ETAA membership and answered all their queries. The Mumbai team comprising Ragini Abichandani, Zarin Suratia and Kersi Dastoor interacted with 70 agents at the event.

Representatives from client governments at the Futsal tournament in New Delhi

The Futsal Tournament 2023, which was held in New Delhi on 16 September, saw a friendly competition between 10 teams representing our client governments. It was an exciting day of bonding and networking over our common love for football!

Dignitaries at the China founding anniversary celebrations in New Delhi

We were honoured to participate in the 74th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in New Delhi on 25 September where our team met Hu Wei, Head- Consular Section, Zhang Yong, Counsellor, and Cheng Haoquan, Minister Counsellor, from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in New Delhi.