Vietnamese Travelers Urged to Buy Insurance

A recently issued instruction on the implementation of the Law on Tourism encourages Vietnamese globetrotters to buy tourist insurance when visiting foreign countries.

 

Surveys taken by Vietnamese tourism companies show that international tourism is a rising trend, particularly to Thailand, China and Singapore. Most Vietnamese tourists do not feel the need or are not informed about the potential consequences of not having tourist insurance.

 

Though tourist insurance has recently been introduced on a larger-scale into the Vietnamese market, many Vietnamese do not understand the benefits of insurance when traveling overseas.

 

“Some 30 to 40 per cent of tourists do not know or care whether their trip include tourism insurance or not,” Vu Anh, tour operator of Tre Xanh Tourism Company said, revealing that tourists only purchase insurance only to fulfill visa requirements.

 

Meanwhile, tourism companies have tried to skirt the issue because it will raise prices and implies negativity to the experience of traveling abroad, he added, revealing that these companies.

 

The new law requires only international tour organizers to purchase insurance for their customers, domestic tourists are not obligated but encouraged.

 

Insurance companies such as Bao Minh, PJICO, Bao Viet and AIG have begun marketing inexpensive domestic and overseas tourism insurance packages covering medical expenses and related emergencies and compensating for lost items and personal luggage.

 

It is expected that the new law will create a surge of tourist insurance investments and that people will, in general, become more educated about the benefits of insurance. (VNA, Vietnam Panorama)