People are getting very excited about the possibility that they can, once again, 'escape' the UK to sun-soaked holidays in foreign climes. They can now use the 'air bridges' to remove the requirement to self-isolate for 14 days after travel. Holiday bookings appear to be 'rocketing' and the travel industry is congratulating itself on starting to 'return to normal'. So far, so good. What I find worrying, however, is the observation that many intending holiday makers seem happy to travel without adequate travel insurance (https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1306701/holidays-2020-abroad-travel-insurance-advice-coronavirus-FCO-comparethemarket-survey-poll). Only a minority of the more expensive policies enable you to fully recoup costs of a cancellation if you (or a member of your party) suspects they have (or may have) a Covid-19 infection. Contracting this virus is not an insured risk in cheaper insurances. This combination may encourage substantial numbers of people to 'take a chance' on cheap (or even uninsured) travel. They might well travel, when cancellation would cause them to lose their down payments. The chances of such folk transporting Covid-19 to holiday destinations (where they mingle with both locals and other holiday makers) and/or returning to the UK with the infection, seem likely to be enhanced. We also still don't appear to have an effective mechanism for tracking a return of Covid-19 to the UK. This seems a recipe for going back to square one?
1 comment:
Hi Paul
Anyone who dares to board an aeroplane and travel in the next few months must be completely out of their mind - and this includes cruise ships!
Stay home, stay safe and well.
Fraser
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