MUMBAI, 18 September 2026: Thomas Cook (India) Limited has expanded its airport foreign exchange network by opening forex counters at Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, Bhogapuram.
The move strengthens its presence in the Visakhapatnam market and the wider Andhra Pradesh region, offering travellers convenient access to a range of foreign exchange services and currencies.
According to Thomas Cook India’s India Forex Report 2026, Tier 2 cities account for 41% of overall forex demand, while Tier 3 cities contribute a further 12%. Together, these markets account for over half (53%) of overall forex demand, highlighting the next phase of forex growth in the Indian travel market.
Visakhapatnam represents an important market within this broader shift. With the opening of Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, the region is gaining a new aviation gateway and is expected to handle over 28 lakh domestic and international passengers annually. The airport currently has international connectivity to destinations including the UAE and Singapore, with the potential addition of further Southeast Asian routes expected to support international passenger growth.
The expansion in Visakhapatnam is part of Thomas Cook India’s broader strategy of strengthening its airport forex presence across key aviation gateways. In Delhi, the company recently reopened its forex counters at Terminals 1 & 2 in June & July 2026. At Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, the company opened multiple forex counters at both terminals earlier this year.
Thomas Cook India’s airport counter transaction data also provides insight into the diverse purposes driving outbound travel. Leisure and holiday travel is the largest segment, followed by employment-related travel. Reconversion transactions, where NRIs or foreign nationals convert their unspent Indian currency back into foreign currency and student travel also contribute to the overall transaction mix. This highlights the diverse forex needs the company meets across its airport network.
The expanding airport footprint is aligned with the changing geography of India’s outbound travel and forex demand. As international travel gains momentum across Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, Thomas Cook India is focused on extending its physical and digital forex services across key travel corridors and high-potential markets.
Thomas Cook (India) Limited Chief Business Officer — Foreign Exchange Deepesh Varma commented: “The opening of our new forex counters at Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport is an important step in strengthening our presence in Visakhapatnam and the wider Andhra Pradesh market.
“Our India Forex Report 2026 highlights the significant contribution of Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, which together account for over half of overall forex demand. This reinforces our view that the next phase of growth will increasingly come from India’s emerging travel markets. As Visakhapatnam develops into an important international aviation gateway, we see a strong opportunity to bring our forex services closer to customers in the region. Alongside the reopening of our airport forex counters in Delhi and the opening of new counters in Bengaluru, we will continue to evaluate strategic opportunities that enable us to build a stronger presence across India’s evolving travel and forex landscape.”
(Source: Thomas Cook (India).
