Overview

• UK holidaymakers may face financial losses if they cancel trips over safety concerns without an official FCDO travel advisory in place.
• Standard travel insurance policies exclude cancellations due to ‘disinclination to travel,’ covering only uncontrollable events like illness or bereavement.
• Recent incidents, including an earthquake in Istanbul, blackouts in Spain and Portugal, and anti-tourism protests in the Canary and Balearic Islands, have raised safety concerns among travellers.
• Travel disruption insurance is recommended as it provides broader coverage, including for natural disasters, civil unrest, and airline strikes.
• Experts stress the importance of purchasing appropriate insurance early, as delays in coverage may leave travellers unprotected in case of unforeseen events.