Risks Associated with Asia Travel
Asia's diversity offers a vast array of travel experiences. Be it Angkor Wat's ancient ruins or the stunning metropolis of Tokyo, each Asian country has its own charm. For this reason, it attracts tourists from all over the world, including India. However, a foreign place has its challenges, no matter how close to home it feels.
You may have everything planned but suddenly your tour operator cancels your tickets. Or, you may be on your way to Indonesia, but your layover in Singapore gets extended due to an airline strike. Such scenarios are beyond anybody's control but they can completely ruin your itinerary.
Falling sick because of a new food item you tried, or unfortunately getting stranded due to severe weather or a typhoon, the risks associated with a trip to an Asian country are endless. You must choose a destination carefully, pick the best possible time to enjoy your activities, be aware of any potential risks and prepare accordingly. Insuring your journey with an Asia travel insurance policy is the smartest way to prepare for uncontrollable situations. It covers a range of financial shocks caused by medical emergencies, natural disasters, social/political unrest, personal liability, trip interruption and a lot more.
Emergencies Commonly Faced in Asia
As per the United Nations, Asia has 48 countries. All of these countries have their own charm, attracting tourists year-round. However, there are plenty of potential health and safety risks in several Asian countries:
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Medical Emergencies: From an insect bite (like Dengue or Malaria) to acute food poisoning, anything can land you in a hospital. Healthcare costs in developed Asian countries like Singapore and South Korea can be high, with significant out-of-pocket expenses.
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Trip-Related Emergencies: A delayed flight, a missed connection, or being forced to cut short your trip because of an emergency back home. Top Indian travel insurers even offer flat compensation for flight delays automatically under instant gratification.
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Baggage-Related Emergencies: Who hasn't heard of tourists getting mugged or becoming victims of petty theft? You may even end up losing your passport and important documents, which can completely halt your travel plans.
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Natural Disasters: Acts of God are beyond any mortal's control. APAC is highly prone to severe weather patterns, tropical storms, floods, volcanoes and earthquakes. What will happen if you unfortunately get stuck during your trip?
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Personal Liability: Asian countries like Singapore, South Korea and Japan have strict civil and environmental laws. You may become liable to a third party in case you cause any accidental bodily damage to them or their property. How will you manage to pay the required penalty or get appropriate legal help?
A good travel insurance for Asian countries covers these situations and more, given you buy a policy with comprehensive coverage, typically offering up to USD 50,000 to USD 500,000 in sum insured. The next section will shed further light on travel insurance for Asia and how it can save your travel plans from unexpected situations.
What is Asia Travel Insurance & How Does it Protect You?
Asia trip insurance is a destination-specific international travel insurance policy designed to protect your journey across Asia. Major travel insurance companies in India provide region-specific plans, which include seamless coverage across most Asian countries. It is a type of international travel insurance that can cover several medical, flight-related, trip-related and stay-related emergencies.
Travel insurance is also highly recommended and even mandatory for some Asian countries, such as Cuba, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Asian countries that previously mandated travel insurance strongly recommend tourists to have a valid trip insurance policy. An Asia-Pacific travel insurance will cover you for several emergencies:
Your insurer will cover any sudden illness or accident that leads to hospitalisation. Most Indian insurers offer a 100% digital claims process and cashless hospitalisation.
In case your airline misplaces your checked-in baggage, you can get some compensation to buy essential clothing and toiletries. In case your personal documents or baggage are stolen during your trip, you can file a claim for the theft later.
In case you are forced to cancel or cut short your trip abroad for covered reasons, your Asia travel insurance will help cover the loss of non-refundable expenses like flight tickets, hotel bookings and certain tour bookings. The exact coverage may vary.
In case you are forced to cancel or cut short your trip abroad for covered reasons, your Asia travel insurance will help cover the loss of non-refundable expenses like flight tickets, hotel bookings and certain tour bookings. The exact coverage may vary.
Your passport is crucial while travelling, so if you lose it, then your insurer will help you cover the official expenses incurred in getting a duplicate or temporary passport.
In case you accidentally damage someone's property or unintentionally become liable by causing them bodily damage, your insurer will help cover the associated legal and out-of-court settlement costs.
Asia is a vast country, and you may find yourself stuck in situations due to language barriers or technological limitations. Many insurers provide a dedicated 24/7 global assistance helpline that offers support to travellers during difficult situations.
Last but not least, travel insurance plans cover the cost of emergency medical evacuation if you are stranded and need immediate transportation to a better medical facility. In case of a fatality, they will also bear the expenses of repatriating mortal remains back to India.
If you’re hospitalised abroad or if your scheduled flight is delayed without any alternative routes, most insurers automatically extend your coverge without any extra paperwork or medical check-ups.
Travel Insurance for Asia: Understanding the Risks: FAQs
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Q: Which travel insurance is best for Asia?
Ans: There is no one plan that suits everyone. You can go for best rated and reliable Indian insurers once you confirm a few things. These include a high claim settlement ratio above 90%, good cashless hospital network, adventure sports add-on and variable sum insured options ranging from USD 50,000 to USD 500,000 as per your needs. -
Q: What are the risks covered by travel insurance for Asian countries?
Ans: Any travel insurance plan for Asia should cover the following: medical risks including OPD and IPD hospitalisation, trip & logistical risks such as flight delays and trip cancellation, baggage delays, passport and IDL loss, and legal risks. -
Q: Do I need travel insurance for Asia?
Ans: Yes, even if its not mandatory you should buy it. Since APAC (Asia-Pacific) is highly prone to unexpected natural disruptions such as typhoons, flooding etc, you need to have a solid backup. -
Q: Which type of insurance policy provides coverage for severe weather related risk during Asia travel?
Ans: You need a comprehensive travel insurance plan to cover weather-related risks in Asia. Look for plans that offer a ‘Natural Calamity Coverage’ or ‘Act of God Cover’ in their policy wording. However, travelling to a place despite government advisory is not covered.
Travel Insurance Companies
Aditya Birla
Bajaj General
Care
Cholamandalam MS
Digit
Future Generali
HDFC ERGO
ICICI Lombard
IFFCO Tokio
IndusInd General
National Insurance
New India Assurance
Niva Bupa
Oriental
Royal Sundaram
SBI General
Shriram General
Star
Tata AIG
United India
Universal Sompo
Zurich Kotak
