Allianz has urged Australians to look beyond the beauty of “instagrammable” locations, and think more about preparing for the serious risks of a health outbreak when travelling to popular holiday destinations.
Allianz cited, in particular, the beaches at Boracay in the Philippines, which recently made headlines after they were temporarily closed off to tourists to rehabilitate the area. The travel insurer noted that despite becoming a “‘cesspool’ of bacteria and waterborne diseases,” this has not slowed the demand to visit the destination for years, with Allianz Global Assistance reporting a massive 164% increase in the number of Australians visiting the Philippines between 2015-17.
But it's not just the Philippines that poses serious health risks to Australian travellers. Allianz Global Assistance data revealed that there were more than 120,000 health-related travel insurance claims lodged between 2015 and 2017 for popular destinations including India, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Kenya.
“The recent events in Boracay in the Philippines have shone a light on the importance of being properly prepared for any potential health risks that may arise on holiday,” said Brendon Dyer, general manager of Allianz Travel Insurance. “There are a significant number of popular holiday destinations that, while beautiful and picturesque, do have a history of disease outbreak. Aussie travellers are often focused on clocking off and having a good time, which is understandable, but we’d urge them to ensure they’re up to date with vaccinations and have adequate travel insurance before they go; that way they can enjoy themselves without worry.”
