Carrying cash while travelling is risky. In a recent study done by global credit card firm Visa to find the use of plastic money by travellers it was found, "Forty-five per cent of those surveyed said they relied primarily on payment cards. But, of the 55 per cent who said they relied on cash as their primary method of payment while abroad, only four percent actually thought cash was safe to carry."

Uttam Nayak, Country Manager (South Asia), Visa, said "Payment cards are certainly a safer option in many seasoned travellers' minds as they are not carrying thick wads of notes in their wallet or purse,"

The survey revealed preference of business traveller for plastic cards (credit cards, prepaid cards, debit cards) rather than on cash. Visa said, "Business travellers are more likely to use electronic payment cards (59 per cent) over cash (41 per cent) as the primary payment method while overseas, while leisure travellers are more inclined to use cash (58 per cent) than cards (41 per cent)."

The most common method of cash withdrawal is through use of ATM machines. Most business travellers (sixty-eight percent) prefer ATM for cash withdrawals as compared to leisure travellers (sixty three percent).

Other than this, travellers use money chargers at airports and other places within the city for obtaining cash. Nayak also added, "The number of Visa ATM access locations worldwide has grown in recent years to more than 1.4 million. Using cards to obtain cash on arrival and to settle payment overseas certainly cuts down the risk involved in carrying too much cash."

The study also found younger travellers (between 18-39 years of age) prefer use of electronic payment system as to older ones (above 40 years of age), who prefer carrying larger sums of cash.