Heading off on holiday? The last thing you want to do is think about a potential misadventure on what should just be an adventure.
But a new study has revealed that nearly one in three Australians have suffered a travel mishap whilst abroad in the past 12 months. So take care out there!
In the study, which was conducted by comparison site Finder, 28 per cent of respondents (equivalent to 3.5 million travelling Australians) admitted to running into trouble whilst abroad in the past year.
The most common mishaps are travel delays, which accounted for one in seven (14 per cent) responses in the survey.
The next most common issue, arising for eight per cent of those polled, related to lost personal items.
Meanwhile, one in 20 (five per cent) respondents said they have been scammed whilst overseas in the past year, while three per cent said they were the victims of theft. Another three per cent, worryingly, said they ended up in hospital.
“Aussies are flocking overseas but some dream holidays are turning into vacations from hell,” Finder travel insurance expert Gary Hunter said.
“People are left shocked and dismayed when their travel plans get disrupted.
“Without insurance you could end up with a huge bill you can’t afford or worse.”
Most accident-prone?
According to the study, young holidaymakers were considerably more likely to get into trouble overseas, with almost half (44 per cent) of Gen Z-ers and nearly the same number (41 per cent) of Gen Y-ers enduring a travel mishap in the past 12 months.
This compares unfavourably to only one in five (18 per cent) Gen X-ers and just one in ten (11 per cent) baby boomers.
“It’s great to see so many people travelling again as the world recovers from the pandemic, but remember – travel can be risky,” Hunter remarked.
“No one thinks anything bad will happen to them, but the research shows travel mishaps are quite common.
“While certain precautions can be taken, such as avoiding dangerous areas or keeping your personal belongings close, many things are beyond our control.
“Travel insurance can help reimburse you for non-refundable parts of your trip or help you if you’re injured or face an emergency.”
In Finder’s recent 2023 Travel Insurance Awards, Southern Cross Travel Insurance took the top gong for Best Travel Insurance – Comprehensive, while Fast Cover Travel Insurance was awarded Best Travel Insurance – Value.
Last month, Allianz Partners revealed three key insights it found are defining the insurance sector in 2023.
