Thailand may have been the first country to suggest compulsory travel insurance among visitors, but an unlikely Eastern European country has become the first to implement it.
A new era of protected travel kicked off this month in the most unexpected destination, the landlocked country of Belarus.
The Eastern European country will give travellers from Australia and New Zealand (along with those from 78 other nations) visa-free entry for 30 days IF they have medical and travel insurance for at least €10,000.
Did you hear that? That was the sound of hundreds of Travel Agents simultaneously popping bottles of champagne.
Consultants along with insurance companies have campaigned for enforced travel insurance to reduce the economic strain injured travellers have on countries around the world, particularly those in Southeast Asia.
According to Cover-More’s Mike Stein, an uninsured injured traveller can drain a country of millions in medical expenses, and it’s often countries where supplies and finances are scarce.
Image: Belarus.by/Facebook
Other requirements of Belarus’ 30-day visa-free offer include entry and exit through Minsk International Airport and proof of financial support equivalent to €25 per day for the duration of their stay, The Visa Machine reported.
Visitors who plan on staying for more than five days need to register with the local office of the Department of Citizenship and Migration. Applicants staying in hotels/hostels will usually be enrolled by default upon check-in.
- READ: Why countries need to make insurance a requirement
- READ: It may be years before insurance is compulsory in Thailand
- READ: Should insurance be mandatory for all Aussies travelling overseas?