Travel cover buys convenience for both business and leisure travellers

Seen as an unnecessary expense, travel insurance is now a top-of-mind investment that is deemed as a lifesaver in case of unforeseen circumstances. [iStockphoto]

Embedding the East African Community spirit into our lifestyles is fast redefining the travel industry that is taking advantage of improved road, railway, and air transport infrastructure. 

Thanks to the visa-free agreement between Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, the region continues to witness increased movement of people for business, tourism, or education.

For instance, Uganda's Martyr's Day attracts pilgrims from across the region to Namugongo, while the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre is a popular visit destination for many Kenyans.

Looking into the future, discussions to open Africa's 54-country borders courtesy of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area are expected to revolutionise travel at an unprecedented scale, expanding travel bucket lists and tourism numbers across different countries.

As more people venture into new places away from home, challenges abound that could disrupt travel arrangements and increase costs of excursions or even expose one to unimagined risks.

One could fall ill, lose luggage or passport and might be exposed to danger incase of a fire, a road accident or civil unrest in a foreign land.

To mitigate sickness of a loved one away from home calls for cover solutions that facilitates one to access treatment in private hospitals, air and road ambulance evacuation.

If you lose your cash and personal effects, one could benefit from travel insurance cover that caters for loss of valuables.

Seen as an unnecessary expense, travel insurance is now a top of mind investment that is deemed as a lifesaver in case of unforeseen circumstances.

While it is a good financial shield, it is important to interrogate all insurance products to understand which best addresses your interests.

Due to stiff competition in the insurance industry, products are customised according to a traveller’s unique needs. For instance, if you misplace your passport, there is a travel insurance product that provides you with assistance to guide you through the process of obtaining a replacement quickly.

In case of legal issues, they can provide advice or connect you with local legal experts. Additionally, travel insurance can assist one to take care of medical emergencies by coordinating with local healthcare providers. 

Travel activities like mountain-climbing, hiking, skiing, or scuba diving increase the risk of accidents and this calls for one to take up a travel insurance product that caters for that.

It gives a traveller the peace of mind by reducing anxiety and stress levels, allowing travellers to enjoy their journey. It also ensures unexpected costs do not derail your travel plans and budget. 

Some travel insurance products are now customised to cover challenges caused by political upheavals, say journalists, aid workers, charity workers, missionaries and more, who may be travelling to high-risk areas.

Incase of cancellation of a flight or travel schedule, some travel insurance products also cater for costs arising from such cancellations, say for meals, accommodation and transport costs.

Note, travel insurance may not cover incidents related to pre-existing conditions, high-risk activities without prior acknowledgement in the policy, or some events occurring under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This could involve instances where a policyholder is engaged in criminal activities.

You may find yourself in a liability situation on foreign soil accidentally or through no intent of your own. If for instance you accidentally damage someone’s property, your travel insurance cover can help offset the liability.

Due to different reasons for travel, local underwriters have developed different products to address the interests of different income groups from students, workers upto C-suite classes.

To benefit from insurance cover, it is important for beneficiaries to disclose as much details as possible to enable providers to understand the extent of risks involved.