How to Manage the Travel Trends Influencing the Insurance Sector This Winter

As winter approaches, UK travellers are increasingly seeking escapes to warmer climates, driving a surge in travel insurance claims. Research into winter travel trends highlights the need for insurers to prepare for a higher volume of claims and increased complexity.

ABTA's Travel Trends for 2025 identified Asia — particularly Japan, Thailand, India, and China — as top destinations for UK travellers, alongside Africa and Australia. These choices bring unique challenges for insurers, spanning all age groups but particularly impacting older travellers, who are increasingly opting for long-haul winter getaways.

With the winter travel season upon us, here's what insurers need to know to navigate the risks and demonstrate their expertise in this evolving landscape.

The Higher the Age, the Higher the Risk

Older travellers are consistently more likely to lodge claims while abroad, a trend that persists year-round. However, winter travel amplifies these risks as this demographic increasingly seeks out long-haul destinations to escape colder climates. Insurers must be prepared to manage a surge in claims during this busy period, with key considerations including:

• Emergency Medical Needs — Accessing emergency medical care in remote areas with limited health infrastructure is challenging for all travellers, but older individuals face heightened risks due to the potential severity of their conditions. Long flights to sunny destinations increase the likelihood of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), fatigue, and cardiovascular strain. Exposure to extreme heat, humidity, high altitudes, or unfamiliar food and water can further stress the body, leading to medical emergencies requiring hospitalisation.
• Medical Repatriation — While medical repatriation is a year-round concern, it becomes particularly relevant during winter when older travellers venture further afield. Coordinating repatriation demands robust 24/7 medical support systems to ensure swift and precise action for the claimant's safety and wellbeing.
• Trip Cancellation or Extended Accommodation — Illness or injury can force older travellers to cut trips short or extend stays to recover. Winter travel, with focus on longer holidays to distant destinations, increases the likelihood of such scenarios. Insurers must provide flexible, hands-on support to minimise stress for claimants and ensure smooth arrangements for their return or extended stay.

These scenarios highlight the importance of highly skilled claims management professionals who can handle complex cases with precision and empathy. Winter travel demands claims teams that can operate under pressure, responding to rapidly evolving situations with expertise.

To meet these challenges, insurers should focus on:

• Specialist Training — Equipping claims teams with the expertise to manage the unique needs of older travellers, including fast-tracking critical requests such as hospital admissions, surgery approvals, and repatriation planning
• Cultural and Linguistic Competence — Multilingual staff and training in cultural sensitivities, streamlining communication, managing expectations, and developing methods to prevent escalation during high-stress claims
• Strategic Partnerships — Collaborating with specialist providers to offer additional support and training for claims teams, ensuring they're confident and capable of managing the increased complexity of winter travel claims

The Farther the Distance, the Greater the Challenges

Regardless of age, travellers opting for more remote or less 'safe' destinations present insurers with unique challenges. Winter sun travel trends often involve long-haul destinations, which bring heightened risks and operational complexities.

• Delayed Departure Claims: The UK's winter weather can disrupt travel plans before departure, as seen during last year's storm season. Insurers should anticipate surges in delayed and missed departure claims, requiring the ability to upscale resources quickly. Return travel is equally prone to disruption.
• Unpredictable Weather and Travel Disruptions: Popular winter destinations are prone to extreme weather. Jamaica and parts of the Caribbean may still experience the tail end of hurricane season, while Australia faces risks of monsoons and flooding during its summer months. These events can cause flight cancellations, delays, and stranded passengers. With global warming intensifying these patterns, insurers must provide comprehensive cover and prepare claims teams for a rise in weather-related claims.
• Theft and Crime: Travellers heading to remote destinations may face higher risks of theft and crime, particularly because criminals often see tourists as vulnerable, high-value targets. Insurers must be prepared to handle claims from distressed travellers with sensitivity and efficiency.
• Higher Health Risks: Many UK travellers departing during winter already have weakened immune systems, making them more susceptible to illness overseas. Longer plane journeys in enclosed spaces can also result in illness during transit or upon arrival.
• Lost Baggage: Winter sun travel often involves multi-leg journeys and stopovers, increasing the likelihood of lost baggage claims. Insurers must be equipped to handle the prolonged rise in claims over winter, not just the short bursts caused by inclement weather or unpredictable events.

Preparing for a Challenging Winter

All these factors create a demanding operational environment for travel insurers. With these trends unlikely to subside, they should consider partnering with a third-party expert to mitigate their impact.

Gallagher Bassett's dedicated Accident & Health division is equipped to deliver straight-through processing, access to our customisable online claims' portal, enhanced fraud detection technology, automated decision-support tools, and an experienced complaints resolution team. Contact us to find out how we can help you upscale your business and team to excel during high-pressure periods.