MAM
Travel Buddy unveils expansion plans to enter SAARC & South-east Asia market by 2025
Mumbai: Travel Buddy, a new-age social travel network and experiences marketplace, has unveiled its expansion plans of creating authentic experiences for users in Southeast Asia and the SAARC region by 2025. Home to over 2.5 million users, Travel Buddy is a one-stop platform designed to cater to the diverse needs of travel enthusiasts, whether you are looking for like-minded people for your next trip, localised information about a particular place or even travel-related service.
With the active participation of 85,000+ travel suppliers and insights from 10,000+ travel influencers, Travel Buddy offers a fresh, localised and enriching perspective on exploring different parts of India. Boasting an impressive record, the platform has over 60,000 premium subscription members from 2,000+ cities, and within the first month of its launch, Travel Buddy had already facilitated the sale of over 250 unique travel experiences, redefining the way people engage with travel and adventure.
Travel Buddy has established itself as a travel-friendly marketplace for both inbound and outbound travellers, and is further looking at strengthening its roots in every corner of the country. This will enable the company to build a strong brand that attracts and builds local influencers network for when it steps foot in the Southeast Asian and SAARC region.
Speaking on the expansion plans, Travel Buddy founder and CEO Saurav Chakraborty said, ‘’Travel Buddy is on a journey to redefine how travellers experience destinations and their localised culture. We empower, both, explorers and locals to foster meaningful interactions and authentic experiences. Our immediate plan of action is to add 1000 more unique experiences by 2023 – that the travellers reminiscence for lifetime. We are more focused than ever and while we are passionately creating experiences in India, we have plans to build and drive the same experiences in the SAARC and in the Southeast Asian region in 2025, and we are very optimistic.’’
Travel Buddy is swiftly aiming to cater to inbound travellers arriving in India, with immediate intent rather than waiting for the years 2024 or 2025. Their primary objective revolves around establishing a robust network of local influencers to enhance the experience of foreigners visiting India. Given the rapid growth of inbound tourism and its significance within the Indian tourism sector, Travel Buddy is deeply committed to contributing to and benefiting from this flourishing trend.
As the global travel landscape evolves, Travel Buddy is positioned to contribute positively to inbound tourism in India, aligning with Prime Minister Modi’s vision to enhance the country’s appeal as a tourist destination. By offering verified and vetted local experts, Travel Buddy aims to boost the trust and confidence of international travellers. Travel Buddy’s uniqueness stems from its emphasis on local influencers who act as trusted guides, revealing the hidden gems and distinctive aspects of various destinations. With more than 10,000 verified local influencers across 150+ cities in India, Travel Buddy has already carved a niche for itself in the market. The initiative embodies the ethos of “Atithi Devo Bhava” – the welcoming nature of Indians – which is being extended globally to put India on the travel map.
With a commitment to Environment, Sustainability, and Governance (ESG), Travel Buddy is also setting itself apart by proactively addressing the ecological impact of travel. The company’s advisory board, composed of seasoned industry experts, underscores its commitment to responsible growth and innovation.
MAM
BLS International launches #VisaReady campaign to guide applicants
Initiative targets visa myths, delays and rejections with practical guidance
MUMBAI: Visa woes may soon meet their match because paperwork, it seems, is finally getting a user manual. BLS International has rolled out a new awareness drive, #VisaReadyWithBLSInternational, aimed at simplifying the often confusing visa application process and reducing delays caused by misinformation and incomplete documentation. The campaign, led across social media platforms, zeroes in on a long-standing pain point for travellers: lack of clarity around procedures, timelines and requirements. By offering step-by-step guidance, documentation checklists and clear Dos and Don’ts, the initiative attempts to turn what is typically a stressful process into a more predictable one.
At its core, the campaign also seeks to bust common myths that frequently derail applications issues that often lead to avoidable rejections or last-minute complications. The idea is to equip applicants with practical, actionable insights so they can plan better and submit stronger applications within expected timelines.
The push will not remain limited to digital channels. BLS International plans to extend the initiative across its Visa Application Centres globally, reinforcing awareness at key touchpoints where applicants engage with the process.
BLS International joint managing director Shikhar Aggarwal framed the campaign as more than a communication exercise, emphasising the company’s attempt to embed guidance and preparedness into every stage of the applicant journey.
Operating in over 70 countries and working with more than 46 client governments including embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions, the company has built a sizeable footprint in visa and consular services. With this campaign, it is now leaning into education as much as execution, signalling that in the world of visas, clarity might just be the new currency.
