Cyclone Evan prompts record travel insurance sales

Travel insurance sales have skyrocketed in New Zealand in the wake of Cyclone Evan.

Travel Insurance News - 27/12/2012

<< Report: most Canadians head abroad without travel insurance | Travel News | SAS official: ‘we had 10 days of cash remaining’ >>

Travel insurance sales have skyrocketed in New Zealand in the wake of Cyclone Evan.

The news comes just a week after the megastorm wreaked havoc on local communities and popular travel destinations in the Pacific, prompting many to take precautions for their next holiday to Samoa.

According to officials from Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI), the company saw a record number of policy sales Monday following news that the cyclone had left thousands of travellers - including many Kiwis - stranded in Fiji.

The firm’s chief executive Craig Morrison reiterated however that travellers should always purchase travel cover as soon as they book a holiday because policies only provide coverage for unexpected events. He noted that if a cyclone was already beginning by the time an insurance policy is booked, it will not be considered unexpected should it cause disruption.

In terms of Cyclone Evan, all travellers that had bought insurance prior to 13 December at 06:00 will be able to claim benefits. Those purchasing after that date were subject to a provision in all SCTI policies.

<< Report: most Canadians head abroad without travel insurance | Travel News | SAS official: ‘we had 10 days of cash remaining’ >>