The latest numbers from Tower Insurance confirm that New Zealanders are leaping at the chance to travel internationally.
Following New Zealand’s relaxing of COVID-19 border restrictions, Australia has surpassed Aotearoa as the top destination for travel insurance policies taken out by New Zealanders. Standard processing time for renewal of passports has also jumped from 10 days to 21 days with the DIA grappling with almost 1,500 applications a day, Newshub reported.
In February, domestic travel insurance policies accounted for 32.2% of those taken out by Kiwis, followed by Australia at 13.74%, the UK at 8%, the Cook Islands at 7.58%, and the Philippines at 6.64%.
Now, flights to Australia account for 19% of travel insurance policies purchased, then New Zealand at 14.24%, the UK at 11.87%, and Fiji and the US at 9.2% each.
"It's good to see the increase and broad range of destinations being booked,” Tower managing director for direct and digital Michelle James said, calling it “unsurprising” that Australia quickly became the number-one destination for travellers.
“It's indicative of Kiwi culture and our love of travel. People are eager to see their loved ones and of course, to see the world again,” James said.
Tower is one of many companies in Aotearoa that offer travel insurance, along with State Insurance, AA and Southern Cross.
