New research from ABTA reveals that more than half of UK adults travelling overseas in the next 12 months see travel insurance as more important following the conflict in the Middle East.
When asked if the conflict in the Middle East had impacted on how important travel insurance was to them, 58% said it was more important.
Families with a child under five years old were the most likely to say travel insurance was more important, at 76%. However, they lagged behind when it came to booking insurance for a planned trip in the next 12 months, at 53%, compared to 81% of those over 45 with no children at home.
ABTA has always advised that people have travel insurance in place either before, or at the time of booking their trip, as this can ensure that cover is in place in case they need to cancel due to an unexpected change in circumstances, such as illness or losing their job.
Buying a good quality policy that covers all activities whilst away is very important as is always telling the insurance company about any pre-existing medical conditions, as failure to do so may invalidate cover.
Although, reassuringly, 69% told ABTA that they already had travel insurance in place, 25% replied that although they intended to take out a policy, they had not yet done so, leaving themselves potentially at risk.
Unfortunately, 5% told ABTA they had no intention of taking out travel insurance, with 18-24-year-olds being the most likely to take the risk at 9%.
Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA – The Travel Association, said: “The conflict in the Middle East is increasingly making people look for the reassurance and cover offered by travel insurance. Travel insurance, plus the protection and assistance provided by travelling on a package holiday with an ABTA member, represent the gold standard for customers looking to book and travel with confidence. In an increasingly volatile world, we strongly recommend arranging appropriate travel insurance at the time of booking — as this can provide cancellation protection, subject to the terms and level of cover selected.”
