Thomas Cook India inks long term agreement to set up Forex outlets at Manohar International Airport, Mopa – Goa

Launch Foreign Exchange services at the Airport

Goa Khabar: Thomas Cook
(India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel travel services company,
inaugurated new Forex outlets at the new Manohar International Airport – at Mopa,
Goa. The Company has won a 5 year contract for setting up
and operating 4 foreign exchange counters at the new Goa Airport. This expands Thomas Cook
India’s forex network/consumer access in Goa to 6 outlets: 2 branches and 4 airport
outlets. In addition, the company operates 25 airport counters across India,
Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

In an initiative to ensure safe,
seamless and convenient merchant payments, Thomas Cook’s Goa airport counters
will empower foreign nationals from G20 nations and NRIs, with UPI enabled
Indian Rupee transactions on arrival. Travellers can then access their INR
wallet to ensure smooth and secure digital payments across millions of merchant
establishments equipped with the UPI QR facility pan India. The prepaid payment
product is issued by Pine Labs under the PPI authorisation obtained from RBI.

Goa is a key and significant growth market for tourism – for both
inbound and outbound, in addition to the domestic market. With strong pent-up demand and
easing of restrictions driving positive consumer sentiment, consumers are
displaying high travel desire. The new Mopa Airport is expected to serve approx.
4.3 Mn passengers in the first year with an increase to approx. 13.1 Mn passengers
within 5 years. The new forex counters at the
airport offers Thomas Cook significant opportunity to capitalize on the foreign
exchange requirements of both inbound and outbound travellers.

Thomas Cook’s new airport counters have
been designed around the concepts of “Ethnicity – Luxury – Comfort”, creating a
refreshing and vibrant appeal. The outlets prioritise passenger comfort with an
open layout concept and high/low counters. An important factor is the focus on Indian
elements, deployment of Indian art forms, motifs and gold arches. In keeping
with the Company’s focus on protecting the environment, what is noteworthy is
the use of sustainable material.

Thomas Cook India has positioned
itself as India ka Forex Specialist with continued focus on the foreign
exchange segment and sustained leadership in the space. The Company is the
largest non-bank foreign exchange services provider in India and serves over a
million customers every year.

Mr. Deepesh Varma, Executive Vice-President – Foreign
Exchange, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “Goa is a strong high growth market for us at
Thomas Cook India. With the new Manohar International Airport at Mopa (Goa),
and its anticipated passenger loads of approx. 13.1 Mn in 5 years, we foresee a significant forex
requirement in the region. We are hence delighted to announce Thomas Cook’s
successful bid for a 5 year contract at Goa’s Mopa airport. Our four new
foreign exchange counters will ensure smooth and secure customer transactions
at this prime gateway airport.

Forex is a key business line for the Company and
our strong focus has ensured our leadership – as India’s largest non-bank
Foreign Exchange service provider. This contract will further strengthen
Thomas Cook India’s presence in this growing forex market with presence at
Goa’s new airport.”

Thomas Cook’s Forex business
leveraged India’s rapidly growing digital ecosystem to accelerate its digital
transformation.

The company’s unique omnichannel
model empowers customers with choice and convenience: simple, secure and quick
bookings via its online forex store; the FXMATE digital tool supports over 1500
B2B partners with virtual Foreign Exchange services; also support through
its call centre or by walking in to their closest forex outlet to transact with
an in-store expert. Thomas Cook India’s FxNOW ushers in a digitized
foreign exchange model that ensures seamless and contactless forex services. The
Company also takes care of the customers’ Forex requirements via a convenient process
to ensure an unparalleled customer commitment in the form of Gharpe Forex –
doorstep delivery in 2 hours!