Imagine arriving in a new country only to discover that your luggage has not made the journey with you. Or falling seriously ill somewhere the nearest suitable hospital is hours away. In moments like these, having a travel insurance plan is only the beginning. What matters is knowing what is covered, who to call and, most importantly, receiving help with further steps.
That is where a specialist in travel protection becomes important. What travellers need today is protection customised for every journey, understanding the risks around it and support when things go wrong.
Is traditional travel insurance enough today?
Despite the growing number of Indians travelling overseas, travel insurance remains far from a default part of every journey. The Indian travel insurance market was estimated at $1.33 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $3.76 billion by 2030. The opportunity, therefore, is not simply to sell more travel insurance plans, but to make protection more relevant, accessible and meaningful to more travellers.
Travellers today need greater value from their travel protection—not just financial cover, but assistance that can make the journey easier and safer along the way. For instance, lounge access during a flight delay, baggage tracking when a bag goes missing, a doctor-on-call service when medical advice is needed, or assistance navigating an unexpected situation can all add value before a crisis becomes a bigger problem.
Need for protection
A traveller needs to have confirmed tickets while applying for a visa, but many times visa processing is delayed or even rejected. The traveller is left with no choice but to cancel the ticket, entailing financial loss; this is a real risk and can be covered.
Moreover, people of all ages-young, old and super old are travelling abroad. People in their 70s are travelling to Antarctica (even a healthy youngster would find it difficult to acclimatise), with youngsters using travel destinations which include rafting, Scuba diving, trekking, hiking—all adventure sports involving an element of risk.
So if the travel involves any element of risk, it is prudent that evacuation support protection is taken and nothing is left to chance. A recent incident in Vietnam where a few Indian tourists died is a grim reminder of the risks involved and the need for comprehensive travel protection. In such moments, timely assistance and appropriate protection can make a critical difference.
Itinerary changes
Travel these days is not simple; leisure travellers and business travellers visit multiple destinations in a single trip. This involves multiple flights, and given the geopolitical issues plaguing the world, disruption in flight schedules is a clear possibility.
Any disruption in one place or one flight can make the entire trip go haywire. Extended stay in one destination and missing onward flights are a clear-cut risk, and this needs to be factored into the travel protection a person takes.
Perennial issues of baggage delay
This is a long-standing issue, but since travel has become frequent and involves multiple destinations, delay in baggage arrival can seriously undermine a trip.
Here, technology can be of aid, as it can help track the baggage on a real-time basis.
Just as our travel has become niche and travel itineraries are tailor-made, so is the need for travel protection. It is not one size fits all. So one needs travel protection expert, just as we need specialists in any other profession these days.
The author is founder and CEO of Asego, a travel protection provider company.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
