Have you ever considered the economic impact an injured traveller can leave behind on a country or city when they don’t take out the right travel insurance?
No, have you ever REALLY considered it? We all know a holidaymaker without travel insurance can run up a hefty personal bill, but what about the financial strain they leave on their host destination?
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.
Speaking to Travel Agents at the Revolution Roadshow in Sydney last week, the Executive General Manager of Sales & Distribution said it’s the doctors, nurses and other health staff who are affected when a traveller can’t afford to pay their bills AND it’s the locals who are robbed of the opportunity to receive treatment.
Outside the medical community, it’s also local business people who lose their primary source of income when items such as motorcycles are damaged and can’t be replaced.
Image: Fancycrave/Unsplash
“Leave no footprint – that’s critical to most definitions of sustainable tourism and it includes leaving no negative economic footprint, which can occur when people don’t have the right insurance policy when they go on holidays.”
Mike Stein, Cover-More Executive General Manager of Sales & Distribution
Stein said a solution to the problem could be for countries to consider making travel insurance compulsory, similar to the visitor law proposed by Thailand in June 2017.
As part of the proposed law, foreigners would need to show travel insurance documents to customs officers or risk being turned away.
“Thailand is considering making travel insurance a border entry requirement to Thailand and the reason is because they’re spending some $2.2 million a week on medical expenses for foreigners.”
Mike Stein, Cover-More Executive General Manager of Sales & Distribution
“The impact for locals is profound!”
- READ: It may be years before insurance is compulsory in Thailand
- READ: Should travel insurance be compulsory for all Aussies?
- READ: Travel insurance may soon be compulsory for travel to Thailand