According to INZ, travel agents in India are advised to include cover letters detailing all group members’ information, such as names, birth dates and passport numbers
In a move to boost tourism from India, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced significant updates to its visa processing system to support group travellers from India, following insights gained from the July Kiwi Link event in Mumbai hosted by Tourism New Zealand.
According to a press statement by Immigration New Zealand, this event, which brought together key travel agents and officials, provided a valuable platform for discussing New Zealand’s visitor visa improvements and addressing visa decision consistency, especially for large family groups and honeymoon travellers.
Since the event, INZ says it has introduced protocols aimed at improving processing times and decision outcomes for Indian group travellers.
According to INZ, travel agents in India are advised to include cover letters detailing all group members’ information, such as names, birth dates and passport numbers, to streamline applications.
INZ adds that new group visitor visa functionality will debut on INZ’s updated online platform next year, further simplifying the process for Indian travellers.
Recognising the importance of training and localised insights, INZ says it is also reviewing its India-specific training modules to better align its services with the complexities of the Indian market.
INZ says that in collaboration with Tourism New Zealand, plans to offer more webinars to better equip agents in handling visa applications.
INZ says it has also expanded its online resources, adding dedicated pages for group incentive travel and updated guidance on the India visitor visa application.