NSEPress Release5d ago · 12 Aug 2026, 04:26 pm
Press Release
Thomas Cook (India) Limited · THOMASCOOK
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Thomas Cook India has launched its India Forex Report 2026, highlighting key shifts in how Indians buy, carry, and spend forex, including rising demand from emerging cities, younger digital-first consumers, and evolving travel planning cycles.
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Thomas Cook (India) Limited has informed the Exchange regarding a press release dated August 12, 2026, titled "Thomas Cook India launches India Forex Report 2026 - Unveiling key shifts in how Indians buy, carry and spend forex".
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August 12, 2026
The Manager, The Manager,
Listing Department Listing Department
BSE Limited National Stock Exchange of India Limited
Phiroze Jeejeebhoy Towers, Exchange Plaza, 5th Floor, Plot No. C/1,
Dalal Street, G Block, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra (E),
Mumbai – 400 001 Mumbai – 400 051
Scrip Code: 500413 Scrip Code: THOMASCOOK
Fax No.: 2272 2037/39/41/61 Fax No.: 2659 8237/38
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Sub: Press Release – Intimation under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure
Requirements) Regulations, 2015.
We are enclosing herewith the Press Release dated August 12, 2026 titled, “Thomas Cook India launches India Forex
Report 2026 - Unveiling key shifts in how Indians buy, carry and spend forex”.
This is for your information and records.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
For Thomas Cook (India) Limited
Amit J. Parekh
Company Secretary and Compliance Officer
Encl: a/a
Thomas Cook India launches India Forex Report 2026
Unveiling key shifts in how Indians buy, carry and spend forex
• Emerging India reshapes forex demand, with Tier 2 and Tier 3 contributing 53%
• Destination-specific currencies gain prominence beyond the US Dollar
• Younger consumers accelerate digital forex adoption, with 25% now transacting digitally
• Forex payment behaviour shifts towards cards and digital experiences
• Study abroad demand expands beyond traditional corridors
• Corporate travellers show strong preference for forex cards, accounting for 84% of usage
Mumbai, August 12, 2026: Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel foreign exchange services
provider, has launched its India Forex Report 2026, offering insights into how Indian consumers are
purchasing, carrying and spending foreign exchange across leisure travel, overseas education and corporate
travel.
Based on Thomas Cook India’s forex transaction data for April 2025 to March 2026, the report captures
emerging shifts across consumer demographics, travel corridors, purchase journeys, payment preferences and
overseas spending. The findings point to an increasingly diversified Indian forex market, shaped by rising
demand from emerging cities, younger digital-first consumers, evolving travel planning cycles and growing
preference for secure and convenient payment solutions.
India Forex Report 2026 key observations:
India’s Forex Demand Is Becoming More Diversified
• Leisure travel remains the largest driver of forex demand, accounting for 57%, followed by
corporate travel at 27% and overseas education at 16%, highlighting the increasingly diversified nature
of India’s forex requirements.
• Emerging India is reshaping forex demand: The geographic base of forex demand is also expanding.
Tier 1 cities, including metros, account for 47% of demand, while Tier 2 cities contribute 41% and Tier 3
contribute 12%. With Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities together contributing 53%, emerging India is driving the
next phase of forex growth, reflecting rising outbound travel aspirations, overseas education and global
mobility beyond traditional metropolitan centres.
• Millennials and Gen X dominate forex demand, while younger consumers lead digital adoption:
Consumers aged 25–40 years (37%) and 41–60 years (36%) together account for nearly three-fourths
of Thomas Cook India's forex usage, underscoring their continued importance to the outbound travel
market. At the same time, younger travellers aged 18–24 years (6%) are emerging as the fastest
adopters of digital-first forex channels across the Thomas Cook India app, website, WhatsApp and quick
commerce platforms. Senior travellers (21%) also continue to remain a significant contributor to
outbound forex demand.
Destination-Specific Currencies Gain Ground
• Destination-specific currencies are gaining traction alongside the US Dollar: While the US Dollar
continues to dominate forex demand with a 49% share, Indian travellers are increasingly purchasing
destination-specific currencies, with Europe-linked currencies accounting for 23% of demand, followed
by Asia at 11%, the Middle East at 9%, Australia & New Zealand at 5% and Canada at 3%. Increasing
demand for currencies such as the Thai Baht, UAE Dirham, Singapore Dollar, Malaysian Ringgit and
Vietnamese Dong points to a gradual shift beyond traditional dependence on the US Dollar. Southeast
Asian currencies are also gaining traction as short-haul leisure travel to the region grows.
Digital-First Forex Journeys Are Gaining Momentum
• Digital forex adoption is accelerating across younger consumers: While branch-assisted
transactions account for 75% of forex purchases, 25% of customers now transact digitally across
platforms including the website, app, WhatsApp and quick commerce.
• DIY platform usage has grown 50% year-on-year over the last two years, reflecting growing
consumer comfort with self-serve forex journeys. The digital customer is also significantly younger, with
the average age standing at 37 years on the Website, 34 years on the App, 32 years on WhatsApp
and 31 years on Quick Commerce, compared with 42 years for branch-assisted transactions.
• Shorter planning cycles are reshaping the forex purchase journey. Indian travellers are
increasingly purchasing forex closer to their departure dates, with buying cycles reducing from 10–14
days to just 4–7 days before travel. This behavioural shift is fuelling demand for instant fulfilment and
quick-commerce-enabled forex delivery, particularly among younger and first-time forex users.
• Consumers are also increasingly comfortable with high-value digital forex transactions, with the average
digital transaction value standing at ₹76,000.
From Cash to Cards: A Hybrid Consumer Emerges
• While cash remains an important part of the overseas payment journey, travellers are increasingly using
forex cards for planned spending.
• Among holiday travellers, cash accounts for 75% of transactions, while cards account for 25%.
However, when measured by load value, the share of cards rises to 39%, compared with 61% for cash.
The higher value share of cards indicates growing confidence in forex cards for planned overseas
spending.
• The point-of-use experience is also becoming increasingly digital. Contactless card (Tap & Pay) and
online transactions account for 57% of forex card usage, while merchant and retail POS transactions
contribute 42%.
• ATM withdrawals account for 26% of overseas spending, followed by shopping and retail at 20%
• Across overseas spending, ATM withdrawals account for 26%, followed by shopping and retail at 20%,
hotels and accommodation at 15%, dining at 11%, grocery and supermarkets at 6% and transportation
at 5%. The spending mix indicates that forex cards are increasingly being used across everyday
expenses throughout the international travel journey.
India’s Study Abroad Market Is Expanding Beyond Traditional Corridors
• India's study abroad market continues to diversify: Indian students are increasingly exploring a
wider range of international education destinations, with Europe accounting for 38% of study abroad
demand, followed by the United States (34%), Australia (10%), Canada (3%), UAE (3%) and other
destinations (12%). The trend reflects students' growing preference for markets offering affordability,
visa stability and stronger post-study opportunities.
• The source markets for overseas education are also widening. Mumbai contributes 12%, followed by
Delhi-NCR at 11%, Chennai at 10%, Hyderabad and Bengaluru at 7% each. Demand is also emerging
from cities including Pune, Surat and Lucknow, highlighting the growing overseas education aspirations
beyond traditional metropolitan markets.
• University fees remain the dominant education-linked forex outflow, accounting for 81%, while living
expenses contribute 19%.
• For living expenses, forex cards account for 73% of transactions and 72% of load value, compared
with 27% and 28% respectively for cash. The near-identical card share across transaction volumes and
load value indicates consistent rel
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