VFS Global has recently launched a new Generative AI-powered chatbot to enhance customer support for travellers to the UK. 

The AI-Powered Chatbot not only utilises advanced Generative AI technology to offer human-like, conversational support, but does so through both voice and text commands, providing instant, accurate, and accessible information for customers travelling to the UK.

Developed by VFS Global’s AI team, headquartered in Dubai, the AI-Powered Chatbot addresses the increasing demand for efficient customer support, allowing users to easily access the information needed to navigate the application process.

Jen Vidler, Deputy Director, Cross Cutting Service Operations, Visa, Status and Information Services, Customer Services Group, UK Visas and Immigration, said, “The rollout of VFS Global’s AI-powered chatbot demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring our visa services are accessible, efficient and meet the needs of all customers. Providing instant access to accurate information about the visa application process will ensure we continue to offer the best service to our customers.”

Zubin Karkaria, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global, added, “Technology and innovation have always been the cornerstones of our operations at VFS Global, and we are pleased to launch this AI-powered information solution which will significantly enhance the visa application experience for our customers travelling to the UK from across the globe. We are developing a range of AI and digital technology driven products to drive the next transformation in visa and consular services for our Client Governments and customers. We remain deeply committed to the responsible development of AI in accordance with the policies and requirements of our client governments.”

The AI-Powered chatbot was developed using advanced Generative AI technologies, each trained exclusively on publicly available data from their respective VFS Global Country-to-UK websites. Built and hosted entirely on VFS Global’s secure IT infrastructure, the AI models adhere to rigorous data privacy and security standards.

A dedicated team of data scientists and AI specialists collaborated on the project, leveraging in-house expertise to uphold the highest quality and security standards, with VFS Global’s AI centres based in Dubai (the headquarters for AI and Digital Operations), Mumbai, and Berlin. Ethical AI practices were a key focus, with VFS Global partnering with the ‘Responsible AI Institute’ to integrate ethical considerations and bias mitigation into the development process. Additionally, the project utilised proprietary AI platforms, including our AI Foundation Model and Super Alpha Application Platform, both equipped with built-in guardrails to ensure data safety, security, and regulatory compliance.

Key Features of the GenAI-Powered chatbot

• Human-like interactions: The AI-Powered Chatbot delivers responses that closely mimic human conversation, enhancing user engagement
• Country-specific information: Focussed solely on the customers’ needs, the information is highly accurate and relevant
• Data masking and PII detection: This process detects and masks any Personally Identifiable Information (PII); therefore, no sensitive data is stored
• Secure AI hosting: Deploys our Large Language Model (LLM) in a safe environment to prevent data sharing with external platforms
• Ethical AI practices: Minimises biases and ensures fair and consistent responses
• 24/7 availability: Customers can access assistance anytime
• User feedback mechanism: User feedback helps refine responses over time

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“This creates new opportunities for business, trade, tourism, and culture. I truly believe this is India’s decade,” he said.

“In VFS global, we are very optimistic about the prospects of India as a global destination, as a source,both for inbound tourism and outbound travellers. India has a vibrant and diverse economy, a large young population, and a rich cultural heritage. These factors make India attractive, both for investors and visitors,” he told PTI in a recent interview.

Known for creating a new industry of visa and passport outsourcing, VFS Global in just 22 years of its inception operates in 149 countries through 3,353 application centers. So far it has processed 278 million applications and 130 million biometrics enrolments.

Today VFS Global is the trusted partner of 67 governments, including the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance (the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand), and 24 of the 27 Schengen countries.

“VFS Global is a truly Indian success story that has gone global. I mean truly global. I conceptualised and launched VFS Global in India, one of the first made-in-India unicorns to become a global leader in its field,” Karkaria said.

“We remain committed to supporting India’s growth story by providing seamless and tech-driven visa services to events, to secure cross-border mobility for people and trade. This is to and from India, thereby contributing to India’s economic growth,” he said in response to a question.

In the US recently for meetings, Karkaria, said there is a lot of excitement and interest by global CEOs in India.

Karkaria previously served as CEO of Kuoni Travel Management Ltd, the 118-year-old Switzerland-headquartered former travel services provider.

“India has been a land of opportunities. It’s expected that India will be the fastest-growing major economy in the next three years. I concur with our Prime Minister’s vision and statement when he says that India will soon be the third-largest economy in the world,” he said.

“The government has also introduced several reforms to improve the ease of doing business, and the ease of living which are very important. Two basic requirements. But it’s very important for people who want to invest and live in India. This is attracting more investors,” he asserted.

Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Chalo India’ campaign to promote tourism and motivate people to travel to India, the CEO of VFS Global said meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions are a major growth driver for the travel sector and economy in India.

India today offers many options across the economic spectrum for travellers with the investments that India has made in its infrastructure and in terms of connectivity around the world.

Super optimistic about India’s future, he said: “I am committed to Prime Minister Modi’s Viksit (developed) Bharat’s vision, which is the government’s action plan to transform the country into a developed nation by 2047.”

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Q. How long have you been in India as the ambassador of your country? How are you working to deepen the bilateral relations between the two countries?  

My tour of duty in India has been nearly 7 months. I am very happy and proud to be the Vietnamese Ambassador to India and my tenure is significant as Vietnam and India are enjoying a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The India-Vietnam relationship has a very solid foundation, deeply rooted in history, maintained by mutual political trust between the two countries on the basis of convergence of strategic interests and cooperative potentials. My mission is to deepen this strategic relationship and to bring our bond to a new level.

Q. What are the key tourist attractions in your country? How unique is Vietnam as a tourist destination?

Vietnam is becoming a major favourite tourist destination in the world. With over 3000 kilometres of coastline, tranquil beaches, dynamic growing cities, mountainous highlands, and diverse cultural and historic sites, Vietnam’s tourism industry continues to rank amongst the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the world.

Destinations like Ha Long Bay, Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Mui Ne, Phu Quoc, and Ho Chi Minh City is popular with numerous places of interest which are appealing to tourists around the world. Notably, Vietnam is known as a safe destination with friendly, hospitable people. In addition, the tourism industry could satisfy any visitors’ demand for shopping, entertainment, cuisine exploration, wedding, honeymoon and conference participation.

Q. Also, share some interesting facts about tourism in your country?

Vietnam recently named the “Asia’s Leading Destination” for the first time at 2018 World Travel Awards. Since 2010, the number of international tourists has grown three-fold from 5 million to more than 15 million in 2018. In 2019, the tourism industry targets to welcome 18 million international visitors. Tourism is expected to contribute 10 per cent to its GDP by 2020 when Vietnam hopes to get 20 million foreign visitors and earn $35 billion in tourism revenues.

 “Our country is traveller’s paradise and this paradise offers an array of options for Indians to do in Vietnam. Vietnam has many things to offer Indian tourists like the world’s best sandy beaches, an abundance of Indian culture reflected in their numerous temples and many Indian restaurants.”

Q. How important is India as a tourist market for Vietnam? Currently how many Indians are visiting Vietnam per year?

Around one lakh of Indian tourists travelled to Vietnam in 2018. The number is estimated to increase in the coming years. However, the figure remained modest compared to the potential of tourism between Vietnam and India, as the two nations have enjoyed friendship, cultural and civilizational linkage for thousands of years, with various ancient Champa towers and temples in Quang Nam province. Meanwhile, India welcomes approximately 30,000 Vietnamese tourists every year, most of whom make pilgrimages to the Buddhist holy land and visit cultural and heritage sites of India.

Promoting tourism is a focus of the Embassy’s economic diplomatic activities. India’s large population with 400-500 million people in the middle class, the country’s increasing number of holiday-makers choosing overseas destinations is one of advantage for our tourism promotion activities. Vietnam should be listed as a not-to-miss destination since it is home to an array of world heritages, relic sites, and natural beauty. Besides, we also aim to promote Vietnam as a destination for golfers and wedding organizers.

Q. What would be your advice for Indians planning to visit Vietnam? What are the attractions in your country you think Indians should visit? 

As I mentioned, our country is traveller’s paradise and this paradise offers an array of options for Indians to do in Vietnam. Vietnam has many things to offer Indian tourists like the world’s best sandy beaches, an abundance of Indian culture reflected in their numerous temples and many Indian restaurants. Many must-see destinations should not be missed when travelling to Vietnam as Ha Long Bay, Trang An Site, Mekong Delta. And importantly, do not forget to shop in our huge shopping malls in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi Capital and try the delicious Pho and the steaming hot Vietnamese Coffee which we also serve at our canteen of the Embassy every Friday at lunchtime. Before going to Vietnam you can explore Vietnamese authentic cuisine at Viet Nom Restaurant in Gurgaon.

Q. How is the visa process for Indians?

It is simple. For Indians to apply for our tourist visa, they simply need a passport and one photocopy of passport, one application form with a photograph attached the itinerary of flight and booking of the hotel. They could submit for visa application at our Embassy at 20 Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi or through Embassy’ s Website. For the normal process, the visa is granted after three working days.

Q. How is air-connectivity between the two countries?

Both Vietnamese and Indian people would like to see non-stop flights between the two countries. It would be a pillar in ‘Act East Policy’ of India. Since I took my duty here, I have tried my best to actualise the air connectivity and our efforts seem to pay off. In the next few months, Indigo plans to open direct flight Kolkata – Hanoi and New Delhi – Hanoi. I am also working for a good flight time slot for Vietjet so she can fly very soon too. Once we have direct air connectivity, tourism will explode.

Q. Finally, what do you like the most about India?

India is treating me very well beyond my expectations. I like the Indian hospitality and friendliness most. I am also enjoying Indian cultural diversity and landscape beauty. I have been to 15 States and Territories and will hopefully be able to travel to all 29 States and most of Territories of India. For me, this is truly the land of miracles!

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Please tell us about the current status of tourism in your country in terms of the number of arrivals.

In recent years, the Slovak Republic has become even more popular as a tourist destination. For example, in 2017 about 2,2 million foreign visitors came to Slovakia. This number is surely even higher, but statistics only include travellers staying in Slovakia at least for one night. If you take into consideration that the total number of Slovak citizens is only about 5.5 million,  you will find our tourism sector remarkable. Tourism in Slovakia generates revenues of roughly 5 billion € every year, which represents 5.2% of our total GDP.

Tell us about the overall tourism potential of Slovakia? 

When you compare Slovakia to India, we are really small because the size of our country is just about 50 000 sq km.  But even though we are relatively small you can find almost everything in Slovakia: about 120 medieval castles, almost 4200 churches and cathedrals, 9 national parks, more than 7000 natural caves, 1600 mineral and thermal springs, 40 spas and aquaparks, more than 50 ski resorts with hundreds of cable cars, almost 150 wineries… We can boast of a total of 30 records in the UNESCO list of world heritage.  Not to mention dozens of festivals, cultural events, galleries, museums and nightlife of course. You can find everything in Slovakia, maybe except the sea.

 What are the unique tourist destinations in Slovakia you would like to recommend?

To be honest, it is really difficult to recommend only a few, but I will suggest some tips to address everyone. For those who prefer nature, mountains and adventures, I would recommend our pride: High Tatra mountains, national park Slovak Paradise as well as our famous Demäňovská Ice Cave and Ochtinská Aragonite Cave that are listed in UNESCO. For those who want to see the history of medieval castles, there are Bojnice Castle, Red Rock Castle, Bratislava Castle, Spiš Castle, Orava Castle and many others.  All of them are fully renovated and wonderful. Those who would like to get to know Slovak culture and traditions should visit our open-air museums of traditional villages like Čičmany, Pribylina or Bardejov and of course they should not miss our traditional folk festival Východná every July.

What facets of tourism in your country do you think will appeal to Indians?  

I believe that all of abovementioned. We understand that travel preferences are very individual. Someone might like mountains and nature, others might like history and culture, someone might prefer to enjoy the nightlife. But as I explained in previous answers Slovakia can really offer something for everyone´s taste. Especially if you want to escape from the Indian summer heat and humidity or polluted air in winter, Slovak touristic resorts may offer you pleasant climate and fresh air during the whole year.

How important is India as a market for tourism in your country? Currently how many Indians are visiting Slovakia per year and for what purposes?

Last year we recorded more than 11 000 Indians that visited our country and stayed there more than one night. In this regard, I would like to highlight that Indian tourists on average stayed on our territory more days than other tourists. But still, there is a huge potential and we believe that we will attract even more Indian visitors in the future.

What are the new initiatives to attract Indian tourists? 

Just recently we doubled visa capacity at the Embassy and launched the cooperation with VFS Global in 3 cities – Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, which adds to tripling the visa capacity as compared to 2018. The latest initiative was an event presenting Slovakia as a tourist destination organized by the Slovak Embassy on March 6th. It was a very successful event and we are planning to organize more of them in the future, maybe even in collaboration with some agencies or organizations.

Please tell us about the Slovak visa process for Indians. How easier is it to get Slovak visa?  

Our visa issuing process has to strictly follow the Schengen Visa Code so we can say it is the same as in any other EU country. But at this point, I would like to recommend to any applicant: please, read the visa application instructions carefully and make sure everything in your application is correct and complete. Correct and complete application submitted in advance of the planned travel is likely to get easy and fast approval. As I have already mentioned, we have strengthened our visa office this year. Majority of Indian Schengen Visa applications in 2018 were business trips and average visa processing time was 4 calendar days.

How is air-connectivity between the two countries?

There is a very convenient flight connection via Dubai to Bratislava, and also direct flights to Vienna airport which is just half hour drive from capital Bratislava. And from Bratislava, it takes only 2-3 hours of car ride to get to most of abovementioned beautiful sites, mountains and attractions.

How long have you been in India? what do you enjoy the most about it? 

Together with my wife, we have arrived in June 2018 and since then we are trying to enjoy a variety of regional and traditional Indian cuisines.

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In recent years, Luxembourg has emerged as one of the leading tourist destinations in the world. What would you say is most extraordinary about Luxembourg as a tourist destination?

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a cosmopolitan country ideally located in the heart of Europe with a thousand-year-old multicultural capital and different tourist regions each with its very own characteristics. The only remaining Grand Duchy in the world, Luxembourg offers a huge variety of touristic attractions. Set in natural and green surroundings, Luxembourg City, the capital of the country has been marked by centuries of history, shaped by tradition and modernity. The old city and its fortress around the Grand Ducal Palace have been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1994. The historical, medieval, classical and contemporary styles come together like nowhere else. The remains of the centuries-old fortifications are among the many tourist attractions in Europe, called the Casemates with 17 km of underground tunnels. The Corniche offers panoramic views of the historic sites and the surrounding valleys of this unique city, which is often referred to as the ‘Gibraltar of the North’.

As one of the six founding members of the European Union, Luxembourg is one of three European cities to hold institutional seats of the EU. Over the centuries, Luxembourg City has expanded with the most recent addition being the Kirchberg district, which hosts many financial institutions. Luxembourg is the premier private banking centre in the Eurozone and the second largest fund centre of the world. Kirchberg is also home to a Modern Art Museum designed by the Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei and the Drai Eechelen Museum, which is housed in the Fortress and illustrates the history of the city and the country. In the Municipal Park, Indian visitors will find a bust of Mahatma Gandhi created by their own famous artist Amar Nath Sehgal, who left a remarkable heritage with numerous sculptures, paintings and drawings in private and public collections during the 24 years he lived in-between Luxembourg and India.
Due to its geological location, Luxembourg is home to an array of different landscapes, which include the dense woodlands and valleys of the Ardennes, the fascinating rock formations of the Mullerthal region and the region of the ‘Red Earth’ with its former mining landscapes as well as the vineyards of the Moselle region. Let me highlight some of the many tourist attractions, from the “Valley of the Seven Castles” to the picturesque Castle-Palace of Vianden, which were built between the 11th and 14th Century on the foundations of a Roman castle. At the impressive Castle of Clervaux, you can visit the final integral version of the photographic exhibition ‘ the Family of Man’ by Luxembourg born Edward Steichen, which was exhibited in over 150 museums worldwide before being permanently installed in the Castle in 1994. The exhibition is also inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register since 2003.

The Grand Duchy has one of the densest certified hiking networks in Europe, all laid out in breath-taking settings. For example, the Mullerthal Trail and the Escapardenne Eisleck Trail acknowledged among the ‘Leading Quality Trails – Best of Europe’, offer breathtaking views over very panoramic landscapes. Strong local traditions and centuries of foreign influences have fostered a unique blend and rich offer of national and international gastronomy. The mild climate and the spectacular beauty of the hilly vineyards make the wines, and cremants of the Moselle region very popular. Among them is also the small wine-producing town of Schengen in the Southeastern part of Luxembourg in the Three-Border-Region, where Luxembourg, Germany and France meet, becoming synonymous with open borders and free movement since the signature of the Schengen Agreement in 1985.

How is Luxembourg growing in the Indian travel market?

We are profoundly satisfied with the 36% increase in tourist and business visa applications from Indians in 2018 as compared to 2017. We see this as a highly promising trend. We are also buoyant with the 22% increase in the size of the Indian community living and working in Luxembourg during the same period. We look forward to welcoming more Indian tourists.

What are the unique destinations in Luxembourg you would like to recommend to Indian tourists?

I would recommend all Indian tourists to visit the Land of the Red Rocks, which is located in the South of the country. It owes its name to the red ore, which was behind the success of the steel industry in Luxembourg during its golden years in the 20th century and led to the creation of the world’s largest steel producer through the merger of Arcelor with Mittal Steel, headquartered in Luxembourg City since 2006. Today, the former mining area of the Land of the Red Rocks has established a new identity by combining old and new technologies. Some of the old blast furnaces have been refurbished as a testimony to our past and now stand side by side to modern glass structures of the new University campus and the concert hall Rockhal among others.

For the younger travellers, the Red Rock Mountain Bike Trail guides cyclists on the traces of Luxembourg’s industrial and historical past through former open iron ore mines in protected nature reserves. A guided tour of the National Mining Museum in Rumelange should be every tourist’s trip to this region. Another recommendation is to visit the capital of the Mullerthal region, Echternach, which is the oldest city in Luxembourg. The famous dancing procession of Echternach, held every year on Whit Tuesday, was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. It is the last traditional Roman Catholic dancing processions in Europe that honours Saint Willibrord, who established the Abbey of Echternach in the 7th century.

What tips can you offer to Indian nationals applying for Luxembourg visas?

The procedures to give visas to travel to Luxembourg are rather straightforward and in line with the rules and regulations applying to all 26 countries of Schengen. Taking into consideration the tremendous increase in tourist and business visa applications in 2018 compared to 2017, our Consulate in Delhi became the first Luxembourg Consulate in the world last year to deliver Schengen visas to travel to Luxembourg.

Just after my arrival in India six months ago, my visit to the VFS Global Visa Application Centre in Connaught Place was very high on my agenda and I was very impressed by their management set-up to allow a smooth process as much for every applicant as for the Consulate. We have a small but highly professional and efficient Consulate and we are known for delivering visas on time. I highly recommend to any citizen who plans to travel for tourism or business to Luxembourg to add all required documents to his file to ensure timely delivery of their visa from any VFS Centre throughout India to and from Delhi. The Luxembourg Consulate works with the 17 VFS Centres in India (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Goa, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi, Puducherry, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram) and Kathmandu in Nepal.

How is the air connectivity to Luxembourg? Any new routes being planned?

The Grand Duchy can be reached with any major airline and is easily accessible from any European capital. Situated in the heart of Europe, any tourist with a Schengen visa can easily travel within the Schengen zone by plane, train, car or coach to Luxembourg.

How will you describe the relationship between the two countries?

We are currently celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations, which were signed on 1 July 1948. We are also celebrating the upcoming 90th Anniversary of Luxembourg’s first Vice-Consulate in Bombay established on 5th November 1929. We have become strong partners over the years, a relation that has further deepened after the inauguration of the resident Embassy in Delhi in 2002.

Luxembourg ranks as the 16th largest Foreign Direct Investor and has strong economic and commercial bilateral ties with India. The bilateral relations between both countries are developing fast. The ever-increasing political, economic, financial, cultural and people-to-people bonds give us a promising outlook for the next decades of friendship.

What do you enjoy the most about India?

Since my arrival in September, I have been travelling a lot and received a very warm welcome in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Agra, Bhubaneshwar, Amritsar, Goa, Bengaluru and Jodhpur, to name but a few. I am thrilled about all the opportunities to discover India’s heritage, arts and crafts as well as the new trend of combining traditional and modern art, which you find in galleries in New Delhi, Mumbai and many other Indian cities. Until now, I have met many fascinating people from various backgrounds and have discovered the cultural and spiritual diversity of India, which is very inspiring. I also enjoy the delicious Indian cuisine, another quality Luxembourgers share with Indians, and I do recommend the reader to visit Luxembourg to enjoy our culinary delights.

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“Taking into consideration the tremendous increase in tourist and business visa applications in 2018, our Consulate in Delhi became the first Luxembourg Consulate in the world last year to deliver Schengen visas to travel to Luxembourg.”

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Tell us about tourism in Lebanon. What has the country to offer as a tourist destination?

The nature of Lebanon makes it the only country in the Middle East that embraces four seasons yearly. Irrespective of the season, there is always something special to enjoy. In the winter season, ski resorts offer tourists slopes that are comparable to the best resorts in Europe. In the summer, international festivals all over the country—in Baalbek, Beiteddine, Byblos, Jounieh and many others—bring together Lebanese and foreign artists to perform in stunning archaeological and historical sites. These events have given Lebanon an enviable place on the cultural map of the Middle East. Visitors to Lebanon enjoy outstanding service in world-class hotels and resorts, restaurants, casinos, theatres, cinemas and nightclubs as well as luxury shopping centres along with advanced communication and transportation services.

Which forms of tourism are more popular in your country? What are the popular attractions?

The most popular types of tourism in Lebanon are cultural tourism, nature and adventure tourism (including attractions like beaches and mountains), shopping, and religious tourism. Lebanon is enriched with tourist attractions, both natural and man-made.

What are the new initiatives by the Government of Lebanon to promote tourism in the country?

Our Ministry of Tourism recently launched ‘Rethinking Lebanon 2025’, a campaign to craft slogans that reflect Lebanon’s identity. As part of the campaign, Lebanese people from across the globe have been invited to come up with creative slogans that reflect Lebanon’s cuisine, nightlife, hospitality, etc. The slogan is meant to promote ‘brand Lebanon’ on the international arena. The competition aims to engage and challenge Lebanese youth all over the world to help create a virtual community to revive patriotic feelings and a sense of belonging among the Lebanese people.

Could you tell us about Lebanon’s international tourist markets?

The tourism industry in Lebanon has been historically important to the local economy and remains to this day a major source of revenue for Lebanon. The country has experienced a remarkable tourism growth; people from across the globe are exceedingly willing to visit Lebanon and explore what it has to offer.

How important is India as a tourist market for Lebanon?

A large number of Indians are exploring Lebanon as I have noticed a significant growth in the number of visa applications received. India, a country of 22 million outbound tourists annually, plays an important role in promoting Lebanon as a tourist destination. Indians are evolved travellers, who believe in experiential travel and want to do things at their own pace. Lebanon is a perfect destination for this category of tourists, therefore, Indian tourists love Lebanon.

How do you plan to attract Indian tourists to your country?

 We plan to collaborate with several players of travel trade in India. We also have many activities and initiatives in the near future. We want tourists from all parts of India to witness the exquisite and serene Lebanon experience. In addition to the major tier-I cities, we also plan to promote the destination in tier-II cities of India. The historical, deep and warm relations between our two countries and peoples make my mission to promote Lebanon much easier and pleasurable.

What would be your advice for Indians planning to visit Lebanon?

Travelling to Lebanon is a mode of self-realization, exploration, experiencing different cultures and meeting new people. I advise my Indian friends to fully indulge in this exceptional experience and enjoy the touristic sites, cuisine, nightlife, nature and Mount Lebanon, among many others.

What is the visa process for Indians?

Thanks to our partner VFS Global, applying for a visa has become easier for applicants. We have been getting positive feedback from the people.

 Tell us about the flights between India and Lebanon?

Although there is no direct flight to Lebanon from India, there are future plans that Middle East Airlines would run direct flights to and from Delhi. Currently, many airlines fly to Lebanon from India through one-stop transits.

How do you see India as a country? What do you like most about India?

India is a magnificent multi-cultural country that has a wonderful history and a rich culture. Above all, I have been impressed by the warmth and genuineness of the hearts of the Indian people.

QUOTE 

 “We want tourists from all parts of India to witness the exquisite and serene Lebanon experience. In addition to the major tier-I cities, we also plan to promote the destination in tier-II cities of India.”

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Turkey and India share many commonalities based on cultures, values, histories, progressive ideas,  citizen welfare, etc. We have solidarity with each other. Relations at the leadership level between the two countries are very close. Indian PM Narendra Modi and Turkish President met a couple of times in the last three years and they share very close and cordial relations. I think it is not easy to develop such exemplary relations in such a short period of time. India and Turkey are on the same page on almost all the regional and international issues. Both countries work closely to strengthen regional security and stability in the world.  Our foreign policy is similar to India’s.

Fight against Terrorism

We are on the same page in the fight against terrorism. I think it is necessary to address the root causes of terrorism. Fight against terrorism cannot be won unless the root causes of terrorism are addressed. It is also important that while fighting terrorism, one should refrain from hyphenating it with religion.  Certain media organizations in the west, because of their vested interest,  hyphenate terrorism with Islam, that is unacceptable. You would never hear terrorism being clubbed with any religion in India, China or in any Muslim country.  It happens only in the western world.

No country can benefit from cooperating with one terrorist organization to fight another one, but a few countries are doing so. I agree with the Indian position that terrorists cannot be divided between good and bad, as all terrorists are bad. Turkey has been suffering from the scourge of terrorism from a decade.

Tourism

Government of Turkey offers e-Visa to Indian tourists that is very easy to avail. In 2017, about 75% of total  Indian tourist arrivals to Turkey visited the country on e-visa.   As of now, Turkey does not come under the e-visa scheme of Government of India, which is a hindrance in Turkish nationals visiting India.   On the other hand, India is yet to reciprocate Turkey by offering e-visa to its citizens. India currently offers e-visa to 161 countries, but Turkey is among the remaining countries whose nationals are eligible for Indian e-visa. Turkish people love India, especially Turkish ladies even without visiting the country. Turkish ladies love Indian costumes, necklace, stones, jewellery, etc.

But if any Turk wants to visit India, he or she will have to visit Indian consulate to apply for a visa, and wait for 15-20 days. This discourages Turks to visit  India and act as a barrier to tourism from Turkey to India. I request the Government of India to allow Turkish citizens to avail Indian e-visa so that they can see this beautiful country, enjoy Indian hospitality and experience Indian couture and heritage.  India has immense tourism capacity such as archaeology, nature, shopping food, culinary.

ON INDIA-TURKEY RELATIONS

Relations between India and Turkey go back to the early part of the 20th century when the Khilafat movement supported by Indian National Congress and Mahatma Gandhi protested against the British rule for abolishing the Caliphate in Turkey. Gandhi was a great son of India.

Government of Turkey has given shelters to a large number of Syrian refugees who fled  Syria to escape the continued violence. The ambassador strongly feels that there is a need to improve commercial and economic ties between the two countries.

The political and diplomatic relations between India and Turkey are very cordial. The relationship at the top leadership level is excellent. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan share very close relation. They developed a very warm and cordial relation in a very short span of time. They have met each other on many occasions. Turkey is on the same page with India on a wide range of regional and international issues. We are on the same page as India on the matter of countering terrorism. Turkey has also been a victim of terrorism for a decade.

Like India, Turkey is also a member of G20. Both countries have similar views on many regional and international issues and they work together on many international forums. We completely agree with India’s position that there is no good terrorist or bad terrorist; all forms of terrorist are bad and one cannot differentiate between terrorists on the basis of political expediency. However, it is necessary to address the root causes of terrorism. Terrorism cannot be eliminated completely unless its root causes are addressed. It is also important that terrorism should not hyphenated with any religion. It is not hyphenated with any religion in Turkey, India or China. But certain media houses in Europe hyphenate terrorism with Islam, which is wrong.

Trade relations

We are a free market economy. Doors are open for Indian businessmen and investors to come to Turkey and invest.  We are working to deepen our strategic ties. We are working together to enhance our trade network and energy security. We cooperate with each other in regional and international institutions. Both countries are members of G20. Turkey is a  member of NATO and intends to join the European Union. The current Turkish government is strengthening the country’s ties not only with its neighbours but with all geographies of the world. We are partnering with ASEAN and  Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). India and Turkey together form a 3 trillion dollar economy and have a huge potential of bilateral trade. Unfortunate, in the past,  we have neglected our economic and commercial relations.

The current size of bilateral trade is less than 7 billion (as in 2017). It does not reflect the true potential of our bilateral trade. Our potential is quite high.  First of all, we must expand the size of our cake, then we talk about the trade balance. Our economic potential is quite enormous. Now we looking beyond our neighbourhood. We are realizing that we need to expand our trade with countries and regions like Iran, America, Africa, China, India, Japan and so on.

Turkey and India are in talks to sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement. We have held five rounds of talks so far. The agreement is expected to be signed in the next two-three years. This would be an important instrument to promote bilateral trade and the size of the trade will increase exponentially.

Another area of cooperation is that both countries can trade with each other in their national currencies. Today we trade only in USD. But we can do some part of our trade in Indian currencies and Turkish Lira. I think it will be a win-win situation for both countries. We need to develop and establish a mechanism to exchange Rupees and Lira to trade in our currencies.

The total bilateral trade volume between India and Turkey was 6,975 billion USD. In the first eight months of 2018, the total bilateral trade between the two countries has been 5,893 billion USD as compared to 4,182 billion USD in the same period of 2017, registering a 40% increase.  Honourable Prime Minister of India and the President of Turkey have set a target of 10 billion USD bilateral trade between the two countries by 2020.

The economic and commercial ties between the two countries are improving. The two countries have had very good political and economic relations, but our economic and commercial ties have not been very strong. We are quite behind in realizing the full potential of our economic and commercial ties. Turkey remained focused on its neighbouring countries and ignored commercial ties with countries like India. In fact, both countries ignored the commercial aspect of their bilateral ties in the past. Now we are discovering the potential of our commercial ties.

Humanitarian Assistance

Considering the ratio of Turkish official humanitarian assistance to its GDP, Turkey is the most generous country in the world in offering humanitarian assistance to countries in crisis. It is the second biggest donor country in the world after the USA. Turkey’s contribution to global humanitarian assistance is 3,2 billion US Dollars. Turkey has been very generous in providing humanitarian assistance in crisis-ridden Syria and to Syrian nationals. Turkey has been providing asylum to a large number of Syrian nationals who were forced to flee Syria due to its ongoing crisis.  I have been in India for the last 20 months. I love India very much and feel at home here.  India is a great civilization.

QUOTE:

“We are on the same page in the fight against terrorism. I think it is necessary to address the root causes of terrorism. Fight against terrorism cannot be won unless the root causes of terrorism are addressed. It is also important that while fighting terrorism, one should refrain from hyphenating it with religion.”

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You have set up several Georgia Visa Application Centres in India. Has there been an increase in visits from India to your country?

Yes, there is definitely an increase in travel to Georgia. It is emerging as a popular destination for tourists who are keen to explore its natural beauty, rich history,  wonderful people and experiences that are on offer. In addition to tourism, the country has always been a popular destination for students, especially those in the medical field, with many top medical universities located there.

In fact, Georgian universities have been coming to India to conduct interviews for prospective students, and we have been working with VFS Global to facilitate student admissions as part of this process. So yes, it has been most gratifying to see Georgia emerge as a favoured destination for tourism and education.

What would you say are the must-see destinations in Georgia?

Summer in Georgia traditionally remains the most exciting period, when the country sees a maximum number of its tourists and international visitors. However, it is important for Georgia to grow into an attractive and interesting tourist destination for all four seasons. Besides summer months, the winter season destinations in Georgia are very popular among lovers of skiing, who can choose among four beautiful ski resorts – Gudauri, Bakuriani, Mestia and Goderdzi.

The highest mountain peak in Georgia is Shkhara, which is 5,200 metres above sea level. The old town of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, is distinguished by cobblestone paths and charming historical structures that make you feel as if you have gone back in time by several centuries. Visiting the sulphur baths in Abanotubani district is a definite must-do when you are in the city. Georgia has a rich and very ancient culture and is a country where past meets future and ancient civilisation gives a strong impetus to the modernisation of the country.

The palaces, cathedrals and gardens in Tsinandali, Mtskheta (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Gelati (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Stepantsminda and many more, like Upper Svaneti (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Tusheti regions are worth visiting for their stunning architecture and landscapes.

The country’s artefacts are well preserved in museums, which have a wealth of church treasures, particularly pre-Christian gold, art, photographs and archaeology. You can explore Vardzia, an ancient massive cave monastery, or spend a day-long wine tour in Kakheti, enjoy the coastal city of Batumi and the beaches of the Black Sea. Where else in the world can one ski on the mountain slopes and lay by the sea on the same day!

So there is a lot to explore in Georgia, you can come here any time of the year. In fact, I might add that this year is especially significant for us. On May 26, Georgia proudly celebrated Independence Day and the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the first democratic republic.

How simple is the visa process for Indian travellers? How about for first-time travellers?

The visa process is fairly straightforward for all travellers as applicants can fill out the online application and submit it in person at any one of the VFS Global Visa Application Centres in five cities of India. This year, we opened more centres in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal for the convenience of applicants in those countries. With the support of VFS Global, we are looking forward to opening more centres in other cities of India as well.

How is the air connectivity between India, the UAE and Georgia?

Several airlines operate convenient flights to Georgia, such as Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Air Astana, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, and Gulf Air, to name a few. So it is a fairly convenient passage for travellers, That said, efforts are being made to introduce direct flights between India and Georgia.

What is extraordinary about Georgia as a tourist destination?

There are so many extraordinary things to explore. Visitors can enjoy the stunning rugged scenery of the mountains and forests, the serenity of the beaches and its ancient and well-preserved historical monuments and rich culture. With its fertile valleys and massive grapevines, Georgia is also the oldest wine country in the world – where wine production has been going on for the last 8,000 years! Ancient Georgian traditional Qvevri wine-making method is on the List of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Georgia is a small country, but incredibly diverse in food and wine, that makes for an unforgettable experience for gourmets.

 What has been the highlight of your stay in India?

I have been in India for quite some time now, but however much time you spend here seems less. There is such a rich abundance of knowledge, culture and history that even a lifetime would fall short. I am thoroughly enjoying my time here and I look forward to immersing myself in the rich culture and heritage of India.

I hope to travel the country as much as I can. So far, I have managed to visit Goa, Amritsar, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Kochi, not just for work, but to explore and enjoy the culture and environment of those locations as well. I hope to visit more places soon and hopefully spend some more time here.

India holds a special place in our hearts since we share a sacred connection. Some of the relics of our sacred Saint Queen Ketevan were interred in St. Augustine’s Church at Goa by Portuguese Monks. Her relics were discovered during a joint archaeological excavation in 2006 and are currently on display in Georgia.

This year was especially significant, since it saw the participation of the Georgian Choir Ensemble ‘Aghsavali’ at the Third Ketevan World Sacred Music Festival, held in Goa and of the Georgian National Ballet, Sukhishvili, at Hema Malini’s Synergy, an Indo-Georgian Dance Fusion, in four cities of India. We hope to have many such cultural interactions in the future. In fact, I am confident that the ties between our two friendly nations will continue to grow stronger, especially since our relations are historically founded on rich cultural exchanges.

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Representatives from 95 countries around the world were felicitated at the unique ‘Diplomats for Peace’ event held in New Delhi recently, for their countries’ contributions towards fostering Peace through Tourism. At the event organised by the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT), heads of several diplomatic missions were also recognised for their countries’ exemplary work in successfully undertaking various humanitarian and peace initiatives using tourism, in various spheres of political, economic, or environmental change.

‘Diplomats for Peace’ was held for the first time in India by IIPT, which is recognised and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and UNWTO, with VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, as the presenting partner. High-level diplomats from 95 countries, representatives from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, and prominent senior Indian officials were present at the gathering. This is also the first time the diplomatic community was honoured and acknowledged for its role in supporting the concept of promoting peace across the world through the facilitation of tourism.

Countries whose representatives were honoured with the ‘Diplomats for Peace’ award by IIPT, for particularly creating humane, sustainable and peaceful environments, when faced with political or socio-economic conflicts, or climate change, are Bhutan, Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Japan, India, Mexico, Rwanda, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

Awardees were selected based on IIPT’s specific set of evaluation criteria and judgment. (Please see full list of awardees below.) A total of 15 countries were also honoured with a special ‘Messenger of Peace’ recognition at the event.

Speaking about the event, Ajay Prakash, President, IIPT India, said, “The United Nations declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development and a number of events and programmes continue to be conducted across the world. For over 30 years, IIPT has been championing the cause of Peace through Tourism. The connection between Peace and Tourism is twofold – while peace is a prerequisite for tourism, it is equally true that the growth of tourism can foster greater peace. The prime function of diplomacy is the prevention or resolution of conflict and every diplomat, therefore, is essentially an Envoy of Peace.”

Zubin Karkaria, Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global Group, said, “We have always believed that travel and tourism plays a strong role in spreading peace and understanding, and building bridges across nations. Being in the business of supporting global travel and tourism through visa service management, developing Peace through Tourism is a topic very close to our hearts at VFS Global.  Being a part of this event gives VFS Global the opportunity to honour the exemplary work done by several countries and their diplomats in building bridges to foster world peace.”

Representatives from various travel and trade associations like, TAAI, TAFI, OTOAI, and various tourism bodies, also attended the event.

LIST OF AWARDEES:

1. H.E. Maj. Gen. Versop Mangyel, Ambassador of Bhutan to India
2. H.E. Pichkhun Panham, Ambassador of Cambodia
3. H.E. Nadir Patel, High Commissioner for Canada in India
4. H.E. Monica Lanzetta Mutis, Ambassador of Colombia in India
5. H.E. Alexander Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India
6. H.E. Dr. Martin Ney, German Ambassador to India
7. H.E. Kenji Hiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India
8. H.E. Melba Pria, Ambassador of Mexico in India
9. H.E. Ernest Rwamucyo, High Commissioner for Rwanda in India
10. H.E. Jose Ramon Baranano Fernandez, Ambassador of Spain in India
11. H.E. Chitranganee Wagiswara, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India
12. H.E. Dr. Andreas Baum, Ambassador of Switzerland in India
13. H.E. Dr. Abdul Rahman Albanna – Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to India
14. H.E. Sir Dominic Asquith – High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to India

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The distinction recognises Karkaria’s exemplary contributions in developing France as a tourist destination through leisure travel and the management of visa services across the world. Having pioneered the concept of visa process outsourcing in 2001 with the launch of VFS Global, Karkaria has contributed to the increased inbound tourism into France. VFS Global today serves the Government of France through 52 Visa Application Centres in 19 countries around the globe.

The French Government distinction ‘Ordre National du Mérite’ (National Order of Merit) was instituted in 1963 by General Charles de Gaulle. It is awarded for distinguished services rendered in public, civil, military posts, or a private profession. Speaking about Karkaria’s achievements, His Excellency Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India, said, “France is proud to be the top global tourist destination, as well as a fast-growing destination for the Indian traveller. Over 5 lakh Indian visitors chose France last year and we want to welcome many more. It is an honour to confer the Ordre national du Mérite on Mr. Karkaria who played a stellar role in this success in conceiving the visa facilitation system and promoting France as a travel destination, thus contributing to developing people-to-people contacts between France and India.”

Commenting on the recognition, Karkaria said, “I am deeply honoured and humbled to be judged worthy of receiving this recognition from the Honourable President of France. I have always believed in the enormous potential France has as a destination, and over the years, it has been my privilege to work with Atout France, France’s Tourism Development agency, and many other stakeholders from the travel fraternity in promoting and facilitating travel to this beautiful country. I am grateful to the Government of France and Atout France for the trust they have placed in the Kuoni Group and in VFS Global, and of course, to all our employees for their engagement and passion to deliver first-class services every day. This recognition is truly inspirational for me and our team to aim higher in our commitment to excellence in developing travel and tourism to France.”

Karkaria, who has been a part of the travel industry for more than 25 years, established visa processing multinational VFS Global in 2001. In 2015, he became the first Asian to head the Switzerland headquartered Kuoni Group, VFS Global’s parent company.

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