Thomas Cook (India) has expanded its airport foreign exchange network with the opening of forex counters at Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, Bhogapuram. According to reports from Business Standard, this expansion strengthens the company's presence in the Visakhapatnam market and the wider Andhra Pradesh region. The new counters will offer travellers convenient access to a range of foreign exchange services and currencies, supporting the growing international travel requirements of customers from Visakhapatnam and the surrounding markets. The expansion aligns with the company's strategy to capture demand from emerging markets, as Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities drive 53% of total forex demand per the India Forex Report 2026.
The expansion aligns with significant market trends, as Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities drive 53% of total forex demand per the India Forex Report 2026. Specifically, Tier 2 cities account for 41% of overall forex demand, while Tier 3 cities contribute a further 12%. This data highlights a structural shift in customer geography, with emerging markets representing the company's largest growth engine. The new airport is expected to handle over 28 lakh domestic and international passengers annually, positioning it as a key aviation gateway for the region. The airport currently offers international connectivity to the UAE and Singapore, with potential for additional Southeast Asian routes.
The expansion in Visakhapatnam is part of Thomas Cook India's broader strategy of strengthening its airport forex presence across key aviation gateways. As reported by Business Standard, this represents the company's continued focus on enhancing its service availability at major transportation hubs. The initiative demonstrates Thomas Cook's commitment to expanding its physical presence in key travel markets across India, particularly targeting emerging markets where leisure travel remains the primary driver of outbound forex usage. Deepesh Varma, Chief Business Officer – Foreign Exchange, noted that the next phase of growth will increasingly come from Emerging India, with the company planning to continue evaluating strategic opportunities to build a stronger presence across evolving travel corridors. According to company data, leisure and holiday travel represents the largest segment for outbound travel, followed by employment-related travel, with other transaction drivers including reconversion by NRIs and foreign nationals, as well as student travel.
According to Business Standard, the Visakhapatnam expansion follows recent developments in other major airports. In Delhi, the Company recently reopened its forex counters at Terminal 1 & 2 in June & July 2026. Additionally, at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, the Company has opened multiple forex counters at both the Terminals earlier this year. These expansions reflect Thomas Cook's systematic approach to enhancing its airport forex infrastructure across India's key aviation gateways, with the company planning to continue evaluating strategic opportunities to build a stronger presence across evolving travel corridors.
