5 Payment challenges every travel operator faces - and how to solve them
The travel industry thrives on creating seamless experiences that inspire people to explore the world — but behind every itinerary lies a complex web of payments moving across borders.
For tour operators, Destination Management Companies (DMCs), and travel providers, managing global payments isn’t just a back-office task — it’s the backbone of operations.
Yet high FX markups, delayed transfers, and fragmented systems continue to slow growth and strain margins.
Here are five of the biggest challenges travel operators face today — and how Sokin helps solve them.
1. Hidden FX markups
Traditional providers often add layers of hidden costs through exchange rate markups and forced currency conversions. For operators working with international suppliers, these fees can quickly erode margins. Exchange rate markups from traditional banks can add 2–3% on top of the mid-market rate — a hidden cost that quietly eats into margins with every international payment.
Sokin supports holding and paying in multiple currencies across major markets, helping to reduce unnecessary FX conversions and protect your margins.
2. Slow international transfers
Waiting days for funds to clear disrupts supplier relationships and creates operational stress. In an industry where timing is everything, delayed payments can damage trust.
Traditional international transfers are routed through a chain of correspondent banks. Each bank takes time (and often fees) before the money finally reaches your supplier. This “bank-to-bank-to-bank” system creates bottlenecks that slow your business down.
Sokin enables payments to over 200 countries, with access to local networks in select markets – helping with timely payments to your suppliers and partners. And when both you and your suppliers use Sokin, funds can move instantly between accounts, no matter where in the world you operate — creating even faster, more connected partnerships.
3. Fragmented systems
Many operators juggle multiple providers and platforms to manage global payments. This increases complexity, slows down finance teams and raises the risk of errors. Not to mention that system fragmentation is also a major drag on operating efficiency – what should take minutes often takes hours.
Sokin provides a unified platform to accept, hold and send funds globally. Streamline your treasury operations, save time and gain full visibility from a single dashboard.
4. Manual reconciliations
Finance teams waste hours reconciling payments across different systems and currencies, leaving little time for strategic priorities. Manual reconciliation not only slows the business down but also causes human errors, increasing compliance and audit risks.
For travel operators running multiple tours each season, even small errors in matching invoices to payments can snowball into major delays and lost productivity.
Sokin integrates seamlessly with accounting platforms like Xero, QuickBooks, and NetSuite. Automate reconciliations, batch payments and invoice uploads to optimise workflows and free up resources.
5. Security & compliance risks
Global transactions carry greater risk of fraud, errors and regulatory exposure - even a single lapse can lead to significant financial loss or reputational damage. Fraudsters often impersonate legitimate overseas suppliers, sending fake invoices with “updated” bank details. Finance teams under pressure may process these payments, only to discover the funds have vanished into a fraudulent account and are nearly impossible to recover.
Multi-layer approvals, regulatory compliance and enterprise-grade protection at Sokin, keep funds safe at every stage, from booking to settlement.
Effortless Payments for Extraordinary Journeys
The best travel experiences feel seamless — and your payments should too.
When funds move smoothly across borders, suppliers stay confident, operations run on time, and your team can focus on creating journeys that inspire.
Sokin helps travel operators simplify global payments, reduce unnecessary costs, and operate with the same clarity worldwide as they do locally.