Many Brits ‘neglecting travel insurance’

A new survey reveals that one in five Brits travelling aboard are failing to purchase the correct holiday insurance.The 2010 ABTA Consumer Trends survey shows that 19 per cent of UK holidaymakers travel overseas without insurance, while 17 per cent believe it is not important to purchase insurance and 16 per cent wrongly expect that the UK government will cover the cost of any unexpected medical treatment while they are abroad.

Mike Monk, ABTA’s head of finance, explained the results show that as well as not being covered for medical treatment, uninsured travellers face other possible expenses when taking flights to Dubai and other overseas destinations.

“Well over half of UK holidaymakers are in danger of not being covered for cancellation charges due to illness or redundancy. In the current economic climate saving the cost of travel insurance could prove a very false economy,” he added.

ABTA represents more than 5,000 UK travel agencies and over 900 tour operators.

Written by Erin Marshall