THE fact that Thailand has
imposed countrywide martial
law could have serious
consequences for the
validity of your clients’ travel
insurance.
Nearly all travel insurance
policies exclude all forms of
civil war as well as martial
law. This means that if a trip
is delayed or clients want to
cancel their trip because of the
political unrest in the country,
they will not be entitled to
payment from their travel
insurance provider.
Simmy Micheli, sales
manager of TIC, says: “No
insurance policy will cover
you if you are frightened to
travel. Disinclination to travel
is an exclusion. How would an
insurer measure the merits of
cancelling because of trouble
in a foreign country?”
She adds that travellers are
entitled to claim losses from
TIC should an airline cancel its
flight to a destination because
of unforeseen or unexpected
civil unrest. However, once
the civil unrest begins, cover
for this benefit ceases. For
Thailand this means that any
policies issued from now on
will not cover this benefit.
Uriah Jansen, md of Oojah
Travel Protection, says only
the ‘Cancel for Any Reason’
policy will allow them to cancel
their trip to Thailand while the
country is under martial law.
She says clients will still be
covered for medical expenses
while on holiday in Thailand.
Even medical expenses
incurred as a result of the
political unrest will be covered,
as long as travellers are not
actively participating in the
protests.
Luggage loss and medical
expenses will also be covered
by TIC.
Tourism in Thailand remains
unaffected by the Thai army’s
decision to declare nationwide
martial law in an attempt to
invoke and restore peace in
the country.
The Tourism Authority of
Thailand (TAT) reported that
the army had not imposed
any curfews in Bangkok or any
other tourist destinations in
Thailand. All public transport
and tourist attractions,
including airports, tourist
sights and shopping malls, are
currently open and operating
normally.
A spokesperson for TAT
in South Africa told TNW
the situation in Thailand
was calm, so there was
no need for South African
travellers to cancel trips
to the country. “Thailand
is safe for travellers.” She
warned, however, that tourists
should avoid rally sites and
demonstration marches, as
well as areas where crowds
might gather.
