•The arrivals generated tourist inbound earnings of Sh353 billion representing a growth of 31.5 per cent, according to the country’s Tourism Sector Performance Report 2023.
•According to VFS this reflects enhanced efficiency and capacity during a year when tourism arrival numbers in Kenya surged by 31.5 per cent.
Image: MINA
Outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, VFS Global has reported a 35 per cent rise in visa applications processed globally majorly driven by opening up of tourism activities.
The firms its Integrated Sustainability Report for 2023, shows that Middle East, EU region and African markets such as Kenyan operations contributed notably to this growth.
Last year the company won seven global contracts which include the governments of the UK, Australia, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Iceland and Austria.
According to VFS this reflects enhanced efficiency and capacity during a year when tourism arrival numbers in Kenya surged by 31.5 per cent.
Kenya witnessed a notable surge in arrival numbers from 1,483,752 in 2022 to 1,951,185 in 2023, representing an impressive growth of 31.5 per cent.
The extent of recovery in 2023 was at 95.24 per cent from the 2019 international arrival levels, this is above the pre-pandemic global recovery levels of 88 per cent.
The arrivals generated tourist inbound earnings of Sh353 billion representing a growth of 31.5 per cent, according to the country’s Tourism Sector Performance Report 2023.
The firms sustainability report shows that Visa Application Centres contributed significantly to job creation in 2023, employing a total of 10,976 individuals worldwide.
Regional employment figures include 1,429 nationals from the Middle East and North Africa region, 686 from Africa, 403 from the Americas, 1,376 from the Asia-Pacific region, 1,295 from Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, and 3,968 from South Asia.
In terms of gender diversity, 53 percent of new hires were women, and the company maintained a balanced gender ratio of 54 percent women to 46 percent men.
On the environmental front, VFS Global achieved a 72 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2022.
Additionally, the company increased its investments in corporate social responsibility (CSR) by 60 percent, making a significant impact through various community programs.
Its CEO, Zubin Karkaria, asserted that the company is keen on ensuring its stakeholders’ good business prowess.
“As a responsible corporate citizen, VFS Global steadfastly continued its efforts to embed sustainability into its business practices, organizational culture, and strategic goals,” said Zubin.
“Our ability to make a measurable difference every year sets us apart and underscores our commitment to enhancing value for all stakeholders in an efficient, secure, and sustainable manner,” he added.
The global travel industry saw a robust recovery in 2023, rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic.