The 70-year-old organisation traditionally provides advice and support to travellers, but it has decided to offer the policy after carrying out extensive research into customer attitudes to insurance. Initially, the policy will be aimed at travellers with existing or rescheduled bookings to destinations that are exempt from FCO advice, who require cover for medical expenses. It includes between £5 million and £10 million in medical expenses per person depending on cover level, over 100 sports and activities covered as standard, benefits such as cruise cover and terrorism that would usually be optional extras included as standard, 24/7 emergency helplines and straightforward policy wording that has been cut down by 50 per cent based on customer research.

The policy is offered in collaboration with AXA. “ABTA Travel Sure provides a quality product at a reasonable price, from a brand that consumers can trust, and its high levels of cover are demonstrated by its five-star Defaqto ratings,” said Ian Hall, ABTA’s Head of Travel Insurance. “We have also done our upmost to keep the policy documents short, simple and straightforward. In these circumstances, we know that insurance has an important role to play in giving people confidence to book now travel is restarting, and ABTA Travel Sure will appeal to people who require cover for Covid-19 medical expenses whilst on holiday.”