This expansion positions the company as one of the leading providers of a diverse currency portfolio on a prepaid forex card in India. The initiative aligns with travellers’ preferences for digital, cash-light payment methods and their desire for quicker, more transparent ways to handle expenses abroad.
The newly added currencies to the portfolio include the Chinese Yuan, Swedish Krona, Vietnamese Dong, Malaysian Ringgit, Indonesian Rupiah, Danish Krone, Hong Kong Dollar, Qatari Riyal, Norwegian Krone, Omani Riyal, Kuwaiti Dinar, Bahraini Dinar, Bangladeshi Taka, South African Rand, South Korean Won, and Philippine Peso.
These additions complement the 12 existing currencies already available on the card, which include the US Dollar, Euro, British Pound, Japanese Yen, Singapore Dollar, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Swiss Franc, UAE Dirham, Thai Baht, Saudi Riyal, and New Zealand Dollar.
Thomas Cook India stated that this expansion aims to minimize the necessity for multiple currency conversions, commonly experienced when travellers transition from rupees to US dollars and subsequently to local currencies in their destinations. The organization noted that direct loading of local currencies on prepaid cards can reduce conversion steps and enhance transaction convenience.
The prepaid forex cards are accessible on both Visa and Mastercard networks and can be obtained through the company’s retail outlets, digital platforms, and partnerships such as Blinkit, which enables swift card issuance and loading. Additionally, the company provides 24×7 forex services via WhatsApp-based support.
The cards are designed for contactless payments at international merchant outlets and can also be utilized with digital wallets like Google Pay at supported terminals.
Deepesh Varma, Chief Business Officer – Foreign Exchange at Thomas Cook (India) Limited, expressed that this expansion reflects shifting travel habits and the growing demand for digital-first payment options.
He noted an increase in travel to short-haul and emerging destinations across Asia, Africa, and other regions, resulting in heightened demand for varied currency access.
“Indian travellers are progressively opting for secure, prepaid, and digital payment solutions while abroad. Expanding to 28 currencies empowers customers to transact more directly in local currencies and minimizes reliance on multiple conversions,” Varma stated.
Ravi Datla, Senior Vice President, Customer Solutions, South Asia at Mastercard, remarked that broader currency access promotes more seamless cross-border payments and reduces friction in international transactions.
Sridhar Keppurengan, Head of Cross-Border Payments, India and South Asia at Visa, indicated that this expansion enhances the availability of secure and widely accepted payment options for Indian travellers conducting overseas transactions.
Founded in 1881, Thomas Cook India operates across the realms of foreign exchange, travel services, and hospitality through various brands and subsidiaries.
