There are many things that could negatively impact travel plans, such as last-minute cancellations, flight delays, illness or other unexpected occurrences.
If recent experiences have taught us anything, it’s that the uncertainty and unpredictability of life greatly justifies and significantly increases the value of travel insurance.
This was the argument made by Mark Prescott, Sagicor General Insurance’s (SGI) Vice President of Insurance Operations, who pointed to the fact that events over the last six to 12 months are proof of the fact that unforeseen things can happen at any time, meaning that travel plans made today could easily have to be changed tomorrow based on developments in the country or city you are departing from or heading to.
“We only have to look at what happened here in Barbados and the region during 2021, first with the unprecedented experience of crippling ashfall as a result of the eruption of the La Soufriere Volcano, followed a few months later by the impact of Hurricane Elsa, the first hurricane to directly hit Barbados in more than six decades.
“In one year, we experienced two events that had not been seen for decades, a reminder that we can never predict what will happen at any given time in our lives,” Prescott said.
He added: “As a result, flight cancellations or curtailments can happen when we least expect it, resulting in travellers having to forego their plans or cut them short unexpectedly.
“Travel insurance allows the policyholder to put a measure of protection in place, so that in the event they either have to cancel or change their plans, that they are able to recover the costs associated with them, especially those costs which are non-refundable.”
Prescott made the point that there are several non-refundable, upfront costs that are associated with travel, including in some cases vacation rentals, hotels and flights.
“When we add up these various costs, we can immediately see the level of spend that is incurred. It is therefore a wise decision to take out travel insurance to ensure that this money is not lost in the event of cancellation or curtailment,” he said.
For more information and to get the best travel insurance coverage on the market, Prescott urged individuals to reach out to a Sagicor Advisor, or engage with one of the company’s team of knowledgeable representatives using one of many options, such as dialling 431-2800, sending a WhatsApp message to 467-7243, emailing getcovered@sagicorgeneral.com or connecting via SGI’s Instagram and Facebook pages. (PR)
