Tourism And Sports Min Seeking Budget For Travel Insurance Project

[webfact]

Tourism and Sports Min seeking budget for travel insurance project

BANGKOK, 11 June 2013 (NNT) – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is preparing to request a budget of 250 million baht to finance the continuation of its insurance project for tourists.

According to Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak, the ministry will seek a fund of 250 million baht for the 2014 travel insurance project.

The insurance will be provided to travelers during October 2013 to February 2014, which is the high season for travelling. The insurance comes with a 30 baht insurance premium with 30,000-baht coverage.

The minister said the conditions for insurance coverage will have to be slightly adjusted to be in line with new risk factors which include political violence and accidents.

The minister also admitted that more travelers are getting involved in road accidents these days, especially those on motorbikes.

He said the ministry will seek stricter policies on bike rentals given that the country’s safety disciplines in the transport system are still lagging behind compared to some developed countries.

Furthermore, the ministry is now keen on making road accidents a national agenda.


-- NNT 2013-06-11

[Rob8891]

"with new risk factors which include political violence and accidents."

Where has this gentleman been, to call these NEW risks??? <facepalm>

[phuketsub]

This is actually a good idea if implemented and marketed correctly: big "ifs", though.

[oldsailor35]

Can any one please explain this , as 30 bht seems a little too cheap for any fallang insurance. Surely 300 bht would sound more reasonable.

Edited June 11, 2013 by oldsailor35

[reiltin]

Beware it could be the start of compulsory insurance-then all are held hostage to whatever premium they dream up(most likely for a less than comprehensive health package) it screams of a scam.

[I Like Thai]

It should be mandatory for any tourist to have Insurance before being allowed to enter the Kingdom

[chainarong]

This is actually a good idea if implemented and marketed correctly: big "ifs", though.

I think it is worthy of support, not often this mob of spiffs come up with anything except diddling the figures, the road toll agenda will take some beating though.

[Bagwan]

30K baht won't pay for much in most private hospitals. 7K for an overnight stay in Bumrungrad 5 years ago (inedible cold Thai food extra), 5-6K for an ultrasound scan on my leg at Bangkok Pattaya (Queen Sirikat asked for 10K).

[bigbamboo]

Will it cover jet ski damage?

[Thai at Heart]

If the bikes had proper coverage why is this required?

[bigbamboo]

If the bikes had proper coverage why is this required?

Sorry, I forgot the irony emoticon.

[chooka]

They are expecting 25 million tourists and need 250m baht how much is that per tourist for a 30K cover?

[hyperdimension]

The government's tourist insurance scheme was announced last year, wasn't it? Did anyone actually make any claim throught it and receive coverage?

Edited June 12, 2013 by hyperdimension

[chooka]

The government's tourist insurance scheme was announced last year, wasn't it? Did anyone actually make any claim throught it and receive coverage?

are tourists informed of this scheme so that they can actually make a claim? If you don't tell them about it then they won't claim.

[madmitch]

30k limit? It is hardly worth it. If a tourist can't afford to pay 30,000 baht then he/she should not be travelling. Even the backpacker on the tightest of budgets should get mummy and daddy to pay this amount.

And how is the premium collected?

The main problem is the tourist that gets a serious illness or injury and does not have travel insurance. Set up a fund to deal with this and this alone.

There's a danger that travellers will hear that travel insurance is provided by the Thai Government so they won't buy proper cover before coming here, which would totally defeat the object.

This new tourism minister really doesn't seem to have a clue.