Thailand is ticking one holiday admin box for Britons by demanding they have travel insurance for their holiday in the Asian country. Visitors will soon be required to buy a specific travel insurance policy from the airport, which will cost 20 baht, which is approximately 52 pence. This lasts for a period of 30 days – therefore covering a significant amount of holidays. The travel insurance policy will cover up to one million baht, around £25,822 in the event of death, however it is not yet clear if the policy will cover other aspects of travel.
This means UK travellers headed to the destination are still advised to buy separate insurance policies before they travel.
Fiona Macrae, Head of Travel Insurance Explained said: “Though this policy may be a compulsory purchase, it should not be used as a replacement for travel insurance.
“We encourage everyone who is travelling abroad to ensure they are covered for all aspects of their trip, including but not limited to; medical expenses, cancellation and curtailment and personal possessions.
“Information released at this moment in time explained Thailand’s compulsory policy only covers in cases of death.
“As travel insurance is not a one size fits all approach, we encourage travellers to read their policy wording to ensure the policy is suitable for their trip and needs.”
The policy is believed to be rolled out later this year.
All money collected from the compulsory policies will be given to Thailand’s Tourism Promotion Fund.
This fund will then be used to cover payments in the event of a claim, which is said to act as a safety net.
Before it is made into law, the scheme needs approval from the Tourism and Sports Ministry (TASM) in order to be presented before the cabinet.
According to the Bangkok Post, the drastic move is in response to a string of recent tragedies, including last year’s boat accident off Phuket which killed 47 Chinese tourists.
