Southern Cross Travel Insurance sees 32% surge in Thailand travel coverage

Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) has reported a sharp rise in travel insurance claims from Australians visiting Thailand, with emergency assistance requests jumping by 43% compared with the same period in 2024.

The surge coincides with a 31.9% increase in Australians purchasing travel insurance for Thailand between May 2024 and May 2025. The renewed interest in the destination is partly attributed to the popularity of HBO’s The White Lotus, which sparked a 19.8% rise in policy sales following the premiere of the show’s third season, which was set in Thailand, in February 2025.

Jess Strange, Chief Customer Officer at SCTI, said: “With international travel proving to be a non-negotiable among Aussies, despite cost-of-living pressures, we saw a 31.9% increase in Australians purchasing travel insurance for Thailand from between May 2024 and May 2025. Thailand is clearly a favourite destination, and we expect demand to continue rising as we carry on through the year.”

Between May 2024 and May 2025, SCTI recorded 307 emergency assistance cases in Thailand, with the average claim costing A$2,808 (US$1,830). The most common claims were for medical and evacuation issues (65%), followed by baggage and personal item losses (17%). Notably, 28% of medical claims were related to gastroenteritis, with ear infections and falls also frequent.

One significant case involved an 80-year-old woman evacuated from Phuket to Perth due to severe chest issues, resulting in a A$260,132 claim.

SCTI has also seen unusual claims, including monkey and dog bites, bathroom slips, and even a missed flight due to six hours of gridlock traffic.

“The variety of these claims underscores the very real need to consider travel insurance ahead of any trip abroad... Whether it’s a slip, trip, lost or stolen property, or even a monkey bite, travel insurance offers peace of mind,” said Strange.

Thailand recently introduced a new online arrival form known as the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which replaced its old TM6 paper arrival card.