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Zika Threat Leads to Rise in Travel Insurance Sales

February 6th, 2016  |  Travel

The World Health Organization has declared the Zika virus an international health emergency, and travellers are getting worried. But their fear seems to be driving them to invest in travel insurance rather than to cancel their trips.

According to the Toronto Sun, U.S. insurer, RoamRight, has reported that sales for its “Cancel For Any Reason” travel policy spiked by 81% in January.

The head of RoamRight, Linda Fallon, comments that this revenue jump is very telling: while consumers may be wary of the Zika virus, they’re maintaining their travel plans and opting for travel coverage instead. Findings have so far shown that the Zika virus is dangerous, primarily, to pregnant women.

Fallon remarks that international incidents, such as the Zika outbreak, force people to think about worst-case scenarios. As a result, insurance sales usually skyrocket.

At this time, other travel industry businesses, such as airlines and hotels, say it’s too early to comment on how the Zika virus is impacting profits.

Image Courtesy of Adobe Stock