British backpackers to Thailand top list for travel insurance claims

UK backpackers taking trips to Thailand top the number of people who filed travel insurance claims in 2009, according to Insureandgo.

The insurance firm said backpackers’ claims following a trip to Thailand account for 22 percent of all claims filed last year. After Thailand, British backpackers to Australia constitute the next group filing travel insurance claims, followed by visitors to India .

Insureandgo founder Perry Wilson said that the leap in the number of travel insurance claims also highlights the growing number of crimes against tourists because of the lingering economic crunch. Mr Wilson said: “We believe crime around the world is increasing because of the global economic crisis, which is why we are seeing a big rise in claims.”

He added that the annual travel insurance claims filed by UK backpackers came to more than £6 million, with personal luggage claims accounting for 40 percent of this total and medical expenses over 33 percent. Lost documents and lost money accounted for more than 10 percent of claims.

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