City fliers want an insured foreign trip

Frequent flier Milan Zatakia’s travel insurance policy expires on October 22, which is also his birthday. The city-based businessman chose the date so that he does not forget to renew the policy.

Frequent flier Milan Zatakia’s travel insurance policy expires on October 22, which is also his birthday. The city-based businessman chose the date so that he does not forget to renew the policy. A travel insurance policy has become an integral part of the travellers kit for several fliers like Zatakia.

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Tour operators say the fear of being stranded in a war-torn country such as Libya or an earthquake-hit Japan has prompted travellers to insure their foreign trips.

“We had to sell travel insurance until a year ago, but now people insist on buying a policy,” said Rajesh Rateria, western region chairman of the Travel Agents Association of India. He added that approximately 75% travellers demand such safeguards as compared to only 50% till a year ago.

Insurance companies said the demand picked up after the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökullin volcano in Iceland, which disrupted flight movement in Europe in 2010. “There has been a significant increase in the travel insurance business post the volcanic eruptions last year,” said Sanjay Datta, head customer service, ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd.