TRANSFORMATION WILL HAVE A CLEAR IMPACT ON THE TRADITIONAL MODELS
‘DIGITALTRANSFORMATION WILL HAVE A CLEAR IMPACT ON THE TRADITIONAL MODELS’
Travel service providers, even for us in the visa services space, will have to adapt to these changes in consumer behaviour, innovate and be first movers in bringing fresh solutions driven by technology to customers, elucidates Zubin Karkaria, CEO, VFS Global Group
Your contribution to the travel and tourism industry has been path breaking. What are your key understandings from the sector?
I started out in this industry back in college, over 30 years ago – first, helping out a friend in his travel firm, then being part of India’s foremost travel companies – and all along it’s been quite a journey – literally and figuratively! These were the years that coincided with the emergence of a newly liberalised economy in India and an overwhelming growth in the number of outbound travellers. Somewhere along this way, tourism pivoted from being the pastime or aspiration of a few, to a sort of must-do requirement for most urban citizens, not just in India but around the world. Judging by the record high in the numbers of global visa applications VFS Global witnessed in 2018, this tribe is growing! Technological innovation and changes in customer expectations in just the last decade or so have dramatically changed the way the industry functions. But what remains the same is that the Customer is still the undisputed King, more today than ever before, demanding conveniences and services delivered to his doorstep, or his smartphone! The sector is fast-changing, with new solutions being introduced in some part of the globe or the other with great frequency – each one raising the bar in convenience higher than the last.
As an industry professional, what are your key learning and findings?
The industry has evolved
This story is from the March 2019 edition of Express Travelworld.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2019 edition of Express Travelworld.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A New Bird Is In The Air
Garuda, named after the mythical bird, and the national airline of Indonesia, has recently launched its Mumbai-Jakarta service. The thrice weekly service is expected to attract Indian tourists who wish to experience the archipelago's varied treasures.
A CSR Day
ITB Berlin highlights corporate social responsibility in tourism again.
IGH: A Successful Partnership
INTERGLOBE Hotels (IGH) is a partnership between InterGlobe Enterprises and Accor Asia Pacific to develop ibis hotels across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Monsoon Adrenaline
The monsoon period especially in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra turns into a perfect spot for adventure enthusiasts.
The Many Facets Of Thailand
Thailand as a destination continuously reinvents itself with new products which are of great draw for repeat travellers. The recent Mega Familiarisation trip effectively showcased many of these new attractions in the country, for the Indian market
we have received a phenomenal response
neeraj khandelwal, founder & partner, in the box space, talks about the unique concept of using shipping containers for hospitality and restaurant projects.
upscale serenity
located in a serene lane of koregaon park, marriott suites pune is the first in india, and the sixth in the world. subhash sinha, gm, marriott suites pune talks about the many unique features of the property that attract both long stay expatriate guests and short stay weekend visitors from neighbouring cities
Talking Digitalisation In The Mother City
Affectionately called Mother City by South Africans, Cape Town was the venue of the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI)'s fourth convention. As the theme of the convention was very modern - 'Digitalisation- The way forward', hosting it in this province with a colonial history was a perfect blend of the old and the new.
Wonders Of The Western Cape
The Western Cape, a South African province with coasts bordering the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, is best known for the port city of Cape Town which is very popular with Indian visitors. But beyond that, there are other hidden treasures like Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn on Route 62 that are worth including in South African itineraries
ICPB: Kolkata Calling
The 11th ICPB (India Convention Promotion Bureau) convention concluded on a positive note in Kolkata recently, with the opening of the first ICPB State Chapter, and showcased the MICE potential of eastern India.
