Laws requiring travellers to take out travel insurance may be unnecessary in the near future if current trends and attitudes towards overseas protection continue.
Australian travellers have seen the light when it comes to travel insurance, according to a new study, which found more see it as a “necessity” than ever before.
Some 73 percent of travellers who took part in the 2018 SureSave Travel Insurance Index said they “wouldn’t leave the country without taking out travel insurance” – that’s a 10 percent increase on six years ago when only 63 percent recognised the importance of insurance.
Image: Damir Bosnjak/Unsplash
These travellers are also keeping their product disclosure statement (PDS) close by carrying an electronic copy (27 percent) that’s accessible on their smartphone (71 percent).
That’s good news for Travel Agents who’ll be able to stress less about their clients’ safety, and it’s great news for overseas destinations, which suffer economically every time a traveller is injured and unable to pay off their medical bills. Click here to read more about the impact.
While the majority of Australians are gaining an appreciation for travel insurance, there’s still around 8.5 percent who say they’ll only purchase it if they’re headed to a risky destination and five percent that “rarely or never bother”.
Image: Jeremy Bishop/Unsplash
SureSave’s Head of Agency Sales, Matt Endycott, said visible progress had been made over the past few years. However, there’s still some work to do in converting those who “don’t have adequate travel insurance cover when they travel”.
“It’s our job to help Agents explain to their customers that all travel carries an element of risk. It’s important to be adequately covered at all times, regardless of the travel destination, duration of trip or activities.”
Matt Endycott, SureSave Head of Agency Sales
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