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The ash cloud, cabin crew strikes, tour operator and airline collapses have highlighted the unexpected situations that can affect travellers and yet despite this, a major online survey of over 5,000 people by leading destination finder and value travel blogging website WhichBudget.com and TheTravelMagazine.net, has found that the majority of people still travel without travel insurance when they go abroad.
A record number of WhichBudget users took part in the survey and the results showed that almost half of the UK responses (44%) did not take out any form of travel insurance when they travelled.
Other results included that 11% of UK travellers only take out insurance when they travel outside the EU and 8% choose to travel with just a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) rather than full travel insurance. This card allows holders to receive state provided healthcare as they would in their home country. Although, as recent stories in the press have shown, it doesn’t cover all eventualities and travel insurance is still needed.
Interestingly, the survey showed that compared to their continental neighbours, the UK public appears to be more concerned about insurance with 37% saying they always travelled with insurance compared with just 25% of Spanish people and only 10% of Italians.
Martino Matijevic, CEO of WhichBudget, said “It is difficult to predict if an airline will collapse, or which tour operator might go under, so it is increasingly important for travellers and holidaymakers to ensure that they are adequately covered for any eventuality, so they are not left out of pocket.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
