VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, bagged two prestigious awards at the Travel Agents Federation of India’s (TAFI) annual convention, which took place between 17 and 19 January 2025 at the Legend Hotel in the Ninh Binh province of Vietnam.
The convention attracted over 600 travel agents and tour operators from India and Vietnam and was also attended by His Excellency Pham Quang Ngoc, Chairman of the Provincial Peoples’ Committee of Ninh Binh.
The first award, the Game-changer in Global Travel and Mobility to VFS Global in recognition of transforming international travel and making travel dreams come true for travellers globally, was presented to Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global Group, by Bui Van Manh, Director, People’s Committee of Ninh Binh province, Department of Tourism.
The second award was for Excellence in Sustainability. This was in recognition of its unparalleled efforts to integrate sustainability into the core of its business operations and inspire stakeholders in global travel. Sampath Damani, a senior office bearer at TAFI, presented this award to Shireen Mistree, Head, ESG, VFS Global.
Commenting on the awards, Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI, said, “The Travel Agents Federation of India is honoured to present VFS Global as the Game-changer in Global Travel and Mobility Award for the company’s pioneering and continuous efforts in enhancing cross-border mobility of people and enabling ease of travel in a secure and efficient manner. This award also recognises VFS Global’s role in supporting economic growth and empowering the society at large through its contribution in supporting the growth in international travel over the past two decades.
He further added, “We also congratulate them on winning the Excellence in Sustainability award, which aligns with our 2025 convention theme, Tourism for Tomorrow: Protecting the Planet. This achievement highlights their leadership in driving sustainable practices. A truly inspiring step towards a greener future for our industry.”
On receiving the award, Karkaria said, “Back in 2001 we recognised a significant challenge–securing a visa appointment was a difficult process. We saw an opportunity to simplify and streamline visa applications not just for travellers but also for embassies, by introducing innovative solutions. Recognitions such as this one inspire and energise us to continue building innovative solutions to keep enhancing the visa application experience.”
On winning the sustainability award, he added, “It is a recognition of our unwavering commitment to responsible practices. This recognition reflects the collective efforts of our team in driving meaningful impact through sustainable initiatives.
