It seems Australians still have some work to do when it comes to travelling safely. A new government-backed study has revealed some risky habits among Aussie travellers, with a quarter of under-30s heading overseas without travel insurance and nearly half willing to take risks for the sake of a memorable experience.
The national survey of 1,001 travellers, commissioned by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) Smartraveller program, found that one in four (23%) of younger travellers were uninsured on their last trip abroad. Overall, one in seven (14%) Australian travellers went overseas without any cover at all.
Two in three (65%) of those who skipped insurance said they’d thought about it before travelling, with one in three deciding against it because they considered their destination “safe” – another concerning pattern.
The study also found a strong appetite for adventure, with nearly half (45%) of respondents admitting they’d take risks in pursuit of unique or unforgettable experiences. These included trying unfamiliar foods (49%) or visiting challenging environments (33%). Worryingly, over a third (36%) said they had seen risky destinations portrayed positively in traditional or social media.
Other findings showed almost half (46%) of travellers had considered travelling overseas for medical treatment, most commonly for cheaper dental care. Meanwhile, 70 per cent consumed alcohol abroad, but less than half (43%) understood how alcohol-related incidents might affect their insurance coverage.
Geopolitical tensions are also shaping decisions, with more than half (56%) of respondents avoiding destinations due to the global political climate. Another half (53%) said they now feel less comfortable travelling internationally overall.
The ICA and DFAT hope the findings encourage travellers, especially younger ones, to rethink risk before their next big trip.
“Travelling anywhere, whether it’s overseas or domestically, is the highlight of many people’s years, but even when travelling to destinations perceived to be safe the unexpected can still happen,” ICA CEO Andrew Hall said.
“Understanding your policy and assessing what kinds of activities you plan on undertaking while you’re travelling is the best way to make sure you’re protected.
“We encourage any travellers to understand their exclusions and assess whether they need additional cover for any risky
behaviours they’re considering. Check Product Disclosure Statements and speak directly to insurers with any questions.”
For more information on the study, visit the Smartraveller website.
A recent iselect study found that eight in 10 Australians do not fully understand what is covered by travel insurance. Check out more here.
