Australians are calling for more help in Thailand, with Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) reporting a 43 per cent jump in emergency assistance cases compared to the same period last year.
The data shows that 307 Aussies needed urgent help while in Thailand, highlighting how quickly a dream holiday can become stressful without cover.
“With international travel proving to be a non-negotiable among Aussies, despite cost-of-living pressures, we saw a 31.9% increase in Australians purchasing travel insurance for Thailand from between May 2024 and May 2025,” SCTI Chief Customer Officer Jess Strange said.
Medical and evacuation claims dominated the list, making up 65 per cent of cases, followed by baggage and personal item issues at 17 per cent.
Interestingly, gastroenteritis alone accounted for 28 per cent of the most common claims lodged by Australians in Thailand in 2025 so far, with ear infections and falls also ranking highly.
One of the costliest cases involved an 80-year-old woman flown from Phuket to Perth with chest complications, a single evacuation that came with a bill of $260,132.
Beyond the priciest emergencies, SCTI says it’s also handled some unusual incidents. These included claims for monkey and dog bites, as well as a missed flight caused by an extraordinary six hours of gridlock traffic. Slips on bathroom floors and tumbles over phone chargers have also tripped up travellers.
“The variety of these claims underscores the very real need to consider travel insurance ahead of any trip abroad to ensure you’re covered for those unexpected events,” Ms Strange said.
“Whether it’s a slip, trip, lost or stolen property, or even a monkey bite, travel insurance offers peace of mind, ensuring that you’re covered for the unexpected and can truly relax during your holiday.”
Thai rise
Despite the rise in claims, Thailand continues to lure Australians to its shores. The HBO hit series The White Lotus appears to have played a part, with SCTI recording a 19.8 per cent lift in travel insurance policies for Thailand between the show’s release in February 2025 and 11 May, compared to the same period last year.
Overall travel to Thailand is also growing, albeit gradually. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) latest monthly report on outbound and inbound travel, 44,130 Aussies visited Thailand in June 2025 compared to 42,780 in 2024.
“Thailand is clearly a favourite destination, and we expect demand to continue rising as we carry on through the year,” Strange said.
The 10 most costly travel insurance claims to SCTI by Australians travelling overseas in 2024 totalled almost $2.5 million with one claim alone costing more than $672,000. Read more about that here.
