FCO stresses need for travel insurance
20 July 2010
Many Britons don`t arrange travel insurance before they go abroad, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has said, adding that everyone should make sure they have the right insurance before they leave the country.
Carried out by RedShift Research for the FCO, a survey of 1,000 people has revealed that 19% of us go on holiday without purchasing travel insurance.
Yet a standard single-trip insurance policy can cost under £6, the FCO pointed out - less than the average amount of money we spend on sweets and magazines at airports!
The most recent `British Behaviour Abroad` report from the FCO shows that British tourists reported 27,272 incidents involving stolen or lost passports in a single year - between April 2009 and March 2010.
"Helping out Britons in trouble abroad is part of our job," said FCO minister Jeremy Browne, "but we can`t get you out of jail or pay your hospital bills.
"A bit of preparation before you go, such as arranging travel insurance and checking our website, will ensure you get the most out of your trip without bad memories and big bills."
Tags: travel insurance, travel, insurance, Foreign and Commonwealth Office