One in five holidaymakers didn’t take out travel insurance for their last trip abroad

More than one in five holidaymakers (22%) travelled without insurance for their last trip abroad, new research from Go.Compare Travel has revealed.

When asked why they didn’t take out travel insurance, more than a third (36%) thought they didn’t need it, 31% said it was because it was just ‘a short trip’, and a quarter (25%) said it was too expensive.

The research also found that, of those who took out travel insurance, nearly a quarter (23%) ended up needing to make a claim. The most common reasons for these claims were lost baggage (30%), transport delays (29%), and medical expenses (28%).

Rhys Jones, spokesperson for Go.Compare Travel Insurance, said that travelling without insurance exposes holidaymakers to a variety of risks that can transform a dream trip into a costly and stressful ordeal. 

He said: “Recent data from Go.Compare revealed that over a quarter of holidaymakers (27%) wait until the day of departure to buy travel insurance, which leaves them completely unprotected against issues that could arise before their trip. Those buying a travel policy last minute leave themselves at risk, as they won’t be covered for any issues that arise in the run-up to their holiday, before their policy is in place – for instance, airline closures or issues with accommodation.”

Global air passenger demand surged in April with record load factors, according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).