Most Hainan Tourists Skip Travel Accident Insurance: The Lesson of a 19-Year-Old Student with No Claim

Last week a 19-year-old Anhui university student was hit by a falling woman in Hong Kong and died — and with no travel accident cover, no claim was possible. The tragedy refocused attention on travel insurance. Reporters found most Hainan tourists travel “bare”, especially independent travellers.

How cold is Hainan’s take-up?

The biggest misunderstanding: agency insured = I’m covered?

Ms Xiao assumed the agency’s liability policy on a group tour covered her. Reading the wording showed: the agency liability policy’s holder, insured and beneficiary are all the agency — it pays only for tourist losses caused by the agency’s liability. Tourist-caused incidents, personal illness, earthquakes and tsunamis: all excluded.

Why don’t people buy? Three reasons

1. Wishful thinking: “what could happen on a self-drive”, “short trip, no risk”
2. Products don’t fit: climbing, rafting and other high-risk pursuits tourists most want covered are routinely excluded
3. Hassle: sold mainly via agencies; painful for independent travellers

The lesson bought with a young life: insurance isn’t something to think of after disaster. Buy before departure — for yourself and your family.