Skiers urged to check insurance cover

10 December 2015 09:28

Appropriate insurance is vital for skiers and snowboarders

Appropriate insurance is vital for skiers and snowboarders

One in three British skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts are failing to check they have suitable winter sports travel insurance before heading off to foreign slopes, the results of new research suggest.

And it seems older skiers are much likelier to hit the slopes without the right cover than their younger counterparts.

The research has been carried out by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and ABTA, who questioned 600 holidaymakers.

It suggests 31% of winter holiday fans are going abroad without checking they have an appropriate insurance policy.

But among holidaymakers aged 65 and above, the proportion who fail to do so is 55%. That is more than double the 24% of 25 to 34 year-olds who are failing to check they are covered for activities such as skiing or snowboarding.

According to the FCO, 45 British holidaymakers have died while on skiing or snowboarding holidays since 2012. Thousands more have sustained injuries either on designated ski and snowboarding slopes, or off-piste.

The FCO's head of consular communications, Michael Vibert, says with millions of Britons expected to visit the ski resorts of Europe and North America over the next few months, it wants to make sure they all enjoy their holidays.

He stresses that it is vital for skiers and snowboarders to follow the advice being issued by ABTA and the FCO, and check their travel insurance policies before going abroad.

ABTA's chief executive, Mark Tanzer, says people going on a winter sports holiday should be aware of the potential risks.

Appropriate insurance, he says, is vital as the cover may have to be used to foot the bill for expensive medical treatment and the cost of getting someone back home in the event of injury.

Having suitable cover, Mr Tanzer adds, will enable people to enjoy their skiing or snowboarding without having to worry about whether they are adequately insured.

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