Toiletries rank higher on the list of holiday essentials than travel insurance, new research has revealed.
The study, commissioned by Allianz Global Assistance showed that just 10% of Australian travellers consider travel insurance as a “holiday essential”.
Instead, material possessions come higher on the list with money top with 37%, then clothing with 27%, followed by toiletries with 15% and a credit card with 12%.
More than half of those surveyed did not take out travel insurance for their last overseas trip.
“Our data shows that for many consumers, travel insurance is an afterthought and is often booked as late as the day before departure,” Allianz Global Assistance chief market manager Damien Arthur said.
“In some cases, travellers choose not to purchase it at all, running the gauntlet and leaving themselves open to potentially disastrous consequences.
He specifically highlighted the high medical costs of incurring even common injuries in the US where a broken leg can set you back up to $35,000.
“Issues such as delayed flights, lost luggage, medical treatment or repatriation could have a huge impact your holiday, with the costs for each varying drastically from country to country if you’re not covered,” Arthur said.
“In reality, travel insurance is the one essential item you can’t live without.”
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