Travel insurance is no longer a 'nice to have'

With wildfire risks increasing across popular European holiday destinations like Greece, Spain and Portugal every summer, ensuring your clients have a comprehensive travel insurance policy that caters for such events has never been more important. 

 

Wildfires can escalate quickly, forcing evacuations, disrupting transport, closing tourist areas and, in some cases, making nearby accommodation uninhabitable. For many families, a holiday represents months of saving and anticipation, so being caught up in a natural disaster can be deeply distressing both emotionally and financially.

 

As holidays can be so unpredictable travel insurance can provide an essential safety net if plans are disrupted. The right policy offers travellers protection for all sorts of situations with a range of cover benefits, from cutting a trip short and returning home early, to moving to alternative accommodation, or rearranging flights if scheduled services are cancelled.

 

Crucially, policies also provide emergency medical cover, which can be particularly valuable if someone is injured, requires hospital treatment, or needs to be medically repatriated. Some insurers also offer optional enhancements against wider travel disruptions, which can make a big difference during the hot summer months when fire risks are at their peak.

 

While wildfires are an urgent and visible reminder of the fragility of travel plans, they are not the only factor holidaymakers might face. This summer, travellers also experienced disruption from baggage staff strikes, last-minute flight cancellations, air traffic control delays, and technical outages across airline networks.

 

Each of these events has the potential to upend travel arrangements at short notice, leaving holidaymakers stranded, delayed, or facing unexpected additional costs. A comprehensive travel insurance policy offers a level of financial protection when the unexpected happens, so holidaymakers are not left footing the bill alone.

 

For those already abroad and directly affected by wildfires, the first step should always be to get to a safe place and contact your tour operator, airline, or travel provider straightaway.  It’s their duty to assess your options and the most immediate route to assistance.   

 

They will advise whether that means cutting the trip short and returning home early or moving you to alternative accommodation further from the affected area. If you are due to travel to an affected destination, reach out to your provider to explore options such as rearranging your trip or obtaining a refund. Should they rearrange your holiday, it’s important to remember to update your travel insurance policy so that it reflects the new details of your trip. If no alternative arrangements are possible, you may be able to claim back the cost of your holiday on your travel insurance.

 

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will provide updates whether they deem a destination unsafe to travel to. If they have not issued formal advice against travelling to the affected regions, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to change your plans. It is important to remember that cancelling a trip simply out of caution is not usually covered by travel insurance.

 

This is why speaking with your holiday provider before making any decisions is essential, and why it is equally important to be familiar with the cover benefits and terms of your travel insurance policy so that you know your options should the situation change before you go.

 

As events this summer highlighted, from wildfires sweeping through the Greek islands to blazes across southern Spain and Portugal, conditions can deteriorate in a matter of hours. Similarly, strikes or technical failures can emerge without warning, disrupting journeys across Europe and beyond. In such a landscape, travel has become more unpredictable than ever, particularly during the peak summer season when demand is at its highest.

 

Keeping up to date with the latest FCDO announcements for the country you’re visiting is vital, as is checking guidance from your airline or tour operator. But equally important is knowing you have the right insurance in place before you travel.

 

Having a policy that provides comprehensive protection not only for any medical conditions you may have but also against natural disasters, cancellations, and unexpected disruptions can make the difference between a ruined holiday and one where you are supported every step of the way.

 

With the increasing frequency of wildfires, coupled with the wider risks of disruption across the travel sector, insurance for your clients is no longer a “nice to have”, it is an essential part of planning any trip.