Many of us manage to squeeze some time in for travel every year, but few have even tried to buy any travel insurance.

 

Is it because we don't really need it or are there other reasons?

 

Do we need travel insurance?

 

Echo Yue from Shanghai gives a definite Yes.

 

"I am an editor of a travel magazine. I travel to foreign countries frequently on business trips. It never occurred to me that I needed travel insurance until once I accidentally hurt my knees on a trip to Saipan. I spent over 3000 yuan on the operation and other medical costs out of my own savings. Since then, I buy myself travel insurance every time I go abroad."

 

A few dozen yuan will buy you a policy worth several hundred thousand yuan, a small price to pay for peace of mind while you're traveling.

 

But while it's not expensive, few people have had similar experiences to teach them about the need for travel insurance. In fact, only small minority ever buy it.

 

The Beijing Business Today newspaper says more than 70 percent of travelers went without insurance last year.

 

Nanfang Metropolitan News says only one out of every 100 travelers had travel insurance. 

 

"There are dangers everywhere, but I'm pretty confident about my abilities to guard against risk." Liu Weixu is manager at a state-owned media group who's a fan of long-distance driving in his free time. He's driven more than 4,000 kilometers and been along the dangerous Sichuan-Tibet highway, but he's never bought travel insurance.

 

"Many travellers think they'll leave things to chance. They think their money will go nowhere if nothing happens. And the chances of an incident are small." Liu Chunhai is a department manager at the Beijing branch of the US based AIA insurance company, the first foreign organization to receive an insurance license on the mainland. "The insurance business is at an infant stage in China and people are still reluctant to throw their money on something that might not happen."

 

But here's the thing: growing wealth has made travel a common luxury in China. As more and more people set off on adventurous tours, travel-related accidents are on the rise.

 

Last month, China's tourism and insurance watchdogs declared they would join hands to promote the awareness of travel insurance, as well as sales. But they have a long way to go.

 

Echo Yue says she always buys travel insurance when she goes abroad, but wants policies to cover more injuries and specific activities.

 

Insurance policies in China are very generic right now. Skiing, rock climbing and mountain climbing are not covered.

 

And driving fan Liu Weixu says he'd buy insurance if it covered emergency services, like transportation to the hospital and rescue teams. "I'm more concerned about whether the insurance could help me in the moment of need, rather than how much I could get afterwards."  

 

(CRIENGLISH.com December 1, 2006)