VISA application agency VFS Global’s Thai visa-processing office, which opened in Hyderabad yesterday, is expected to boost outbound travel to Thailand.
Travel Express managing director, C Venkateshwar Prasad, told TTG Asia e-Daily: “The new facility will speed up the process for obtaining visas and help travel agents and travellers from Hyderabad.”
“In the past, we had to apply for visas in Mumbai or Delhi,” he explained. “Being able to apply for Thai visas here will save us two days. It will help many last-minute travellers.”
Prasad added: “While there is also the existing facility of getting visas-on-arrival at a Thai airport, travellers prefer to have their visas on-hand to avoid joining the queues on arrival.”
Balmer Lawrie & Co. regional manager Western India, Mahesh K. Neralkar, said: “VFS’ visa facilitation service in Hyderabad will help us save time and effort in sending our clients’ visa applications to Mumbai, Delhi or Chennai.”
The visa-processing centre in Hyderabad is the fifth one in India. An estimated 45,000 Thai visas were issued to travellers from Hyderabad last year, while 50,000 are expected to be issued this year.
By Anand & Madhura Katti
