Travel banking platform, Niyo has expanded into the flight bookings and visa application segments, offering integrated travel-banking solutions to travellers. Niyo has been offering zero-forex markup debit and credit cards to India’s two million international travellers in partnership with banks. This strategic move aims to provide end-to-end travel solutions to customers via the app and tap into India’s burgeoning new-to-international travel segment.
Vinay Bagri, Co-founder and CEO of Niyo, said, “Niyo has always been at the forefront of innovation, providing international travellers with convenient travel banking solutions. Customer feedback has been instrumental in shaping our offerings, and we strive to introduce services that address the real pain points of travelers. Our expansion into flight bookings and visa applications aligns perfectly with this mission and helps us grow the ‘travel-banking’ segment. A majority of our travelers are seeking seamless and affordable travel solutions – and our flight and visa offerings are designed for the same.”
“Our flight booking platform promises the most affordable international and domestic fares, together with the benefit of earning Niyo Coins on every spend. Also, our Visa services address a core customer pain point of timely visa, by offering a 99.4% approval rate on visa and on time delivery plus the benefit of Niyo Coins. Customers can use these Niyo Coins to avail significant discounts on future flight and visa bookings, unlocking more travel aspirations. With the expanding middle class and rising incomes in India, the travel sector is poised for tremendous growth,” Bagri added.
Niyo has developed an in-house flight booking platform to offer affordable domestic and international flight options with zero convenience fees. Additionally, Niyo has simplified the visa application process with the launch of a new visa booking product on its app, providing affordability and convenience to customers traveling internationally at zero service fee. These two offerings, along with the Niyo Coins – the new rewards program, will offer superior affordability and convenience to the customers. With this expansion, Niyo expects the average spending per customer on the platform to increase by 50%. Additionally, with the visa application offering, the company aims to reduce the time and effort required for visa applications by 80%. Over 30,000 users have already indicated their interest in availing the visa and flight services on the Niyo app.
According to a report by Mastercard Economics Institute, 97 million passengers travelled through Indian international airports in the first three months of 2024, a figure that took a year to reach a decade ago. The report highlights that the growing middle class and increasing incomes are driving the travel industry’s growth. Over the next five years, India is expected to add over 20 million middle-class individuals and nearly two million high-income earners. This expanding affluent customer base is fuelling exceptional growth in the outbound travel segment.
