Global conflicts might not disturb our everyday routine but they do have the potential to disrupt a holiday – before or during it.
Do you know what constitutes a global conflict? Whether it’s a minor dispute or a full-scale war and a conflict arises before or during a trip, there’s little we can do to mitigate the consequences. This is where travel insurance might assist. Travel insurance provides cover for a wide range of unforeseen risks.
However, some destinations we think are safe may not be as safe as we think. Also, not all travel insurance policies are the same. Some include high cover levels to protect travellers and their trip from conflict. While others may exclude anything related to war or global conflicts. It’s important to check the terms and conditions of the policy so you know what you are covered for.
Let us share what protection our travel insurance policies provide if a global conflict occurs. We’ll give some pointers on how best to visit high-risk areas with the right travel insurance policy too.
What is a global conflict?
Global conflicts have been less fatal than the outbreak of World Wars observed in the 20th century. Fewer people have died due to conflict. Yet they still occur in places we may assume are safe. Today, global conflicts are often between domestic groups, competitive political militias, or criminal, international terrorist groups, rather than two hostile countries. However, their repercussions can have a ripple effect.
Five examples of global conflicts and their effects on the travel industry.
1. Warfare and wartime acts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war have made these two countries unavailable to tourists. Plus, airlines have had to reroute across Eastern Europe due to the closure of the Russian airspace. This has made airports busier and journeys more complex.
2. Military issues across borders can lead to a decrease in supplies and staff in the travel and hospitality industries. This can lead to a loss of skilled labour and inadequate customer service.
3. Organised crime including extreme violence against police, women, journalists, or migrants, by armed gangs. These crimes encourage accommodation providers to invest more in security. So, surveillance systems and extra staff are paid for to increase guests’ safety. An increase in these operational costs leads to higher customer costs.
4. Unforeseen violent, political extremist attacks due to political instability or terror may cause local law enforcement to be reactive, causing unexpected injuries to passers-by.
5. Targeted cyber hacks, data hacks and ransomware organised by small groups or individuals can target airport control towers power plants and healthcare organisations. These actions can disrupt services required in emergencies.
What global conflicts are happening now?
A few major conflicts are being televised across the world including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war. Conflicts in the Middle East are ongoing too. Looking further east, an increase in the military along the China–India border shows no signs of abating.
Conflicts occur in holiday destinations too. Most are being monitored but are rarely mentioned in the media. These destinations are on the International Crisis Group website.
Where are current conflicts being monitored?
Cyprus
Since 1976, Cyprus has been a divided island. On either side of the ‘Green Line’ (a cease-fire line) tensions between Greek and Turkish Cypriots continue. To this day the British government does not acknowledge the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’. Due to the tension, political demonstrations and arbitrary terrorist attacks cannot be ruled out.
Egypt
South Sinai in Egypt has been impacted by the Israeli war in Gaza politically and economically. Egypt is in the middle of a foreign exchange crisis while fighting the effects of high inflation. Security is unstable in the Western Desert, west of the Nile Valley and Nile Delta where Israel’s military operations have the potential to push Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula. As a result, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel in the west of Egypt.
Turkey
There are many reasons to visit Turkey. However, the southeast of the country – 10km from the Syrian border – is highly volatile and should be avoided. Throughout Turkey, there’s a threat of fighting from Kurdistan Workers’ Party militants too. Also, the country is host to over four million refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Syria.
To find out whether a country is safe to visit, or risks conflict always visit the FCDO website for help and up-to-date travel advice before booking a trip.
You can also check out the Crisis Group website or global conflict tracker to view all the countries being monitored across the world.
What travel insurance covers if a global conflict disrupts a trip
Wherever the risk of a global conflict and whatever it may be, each makes underwriters question what cover can be provided if someone wants/needs to go there.
Global conflicts and geopolitics affect travel insurance. So, most standard travel insurance policies won’t cover high-level risks in response to conflict. These risks are more likely to occur in unsettled countries.
However, some of our policies do provide cover for some high-level travel risks as long as you are not travelling against the advice of the FCDO.
What cover P J Hayman’s policies provide for global conflicts
Cover for travel risks.
• Free Spirit Travel Insurance provides cover for hijack/kidnap up to £2,500 (£100 per 24 hours), with a Super or Super Duper Policy.
• With a Travel Plus Premier Plus Policy the amount of cover for hijack/kidnap increases to £10,000 (£500 per 24 hours).
Furthermore, cover for Emergency Medical and Associated Expenses is provided on both policies up to £10,000,000.
Cover for extended journey disruption.
If a global conflict occurs and disrupts a journey a Free Spirit or Travel Plus Policy will provide cover if the following happens:
• If an airport, port, or airspace you’re travelling from/through is closed for more than 24 hours from the date and time of departure. That causes delayed departure. Or if it’s cancelled and no alternative flight or transport can be provided after 24 hours of delay.
• When a flight is diverted or re-directed after take-off.
• When boarding is denied, and no other suitable alternative flight can be provided within 12 hours.
Cover for cancellation
• For each insured person with a Free Spirit Policy up to £3,000 (with Super cover) and up to £6,000 (with Super Duper cover) cover will be provided for cancellation.
• A Travel Plus Premier Plus Policy provides up to £10,000 cancellation cover.
Also, cancellation cover is provided if you’re forced to cancel your trip if an unforeseen riot or civil unrest happens in a country you’re travelling to.
Read all the policy documents in full for more details.
Please note: If someone chooses to visit a destination/area that the FCDO ‘advises against all travel to’, such as Russia, this would immediately invalidate the policies we refer to above.
Free Spirit and Travel Plus policies will provide the cover highlighted above only if someone unknowingly gets caught up in unrest. If you have questions about our policies and cover levels speak with our knowledgeable team.
Whatever the destination, cover won’t be provided if someone wants to cancel a trip because they don’t want to travel. This is known as ‘disinclination to travel’.
Cover for terrorism
The number of insurers providing terrorism insurance is disappearing.
Act of terrorism means an act, including but not limited to the use of force or violence and/or the threat thereof, of any person or group(s) of persons, whether acting alone or on behalf of or in connection with any organisation(s) or government(s), committed for political, religious, ideological or similar purposes including the intention to influence any government and/or to put the public, or any section of the public, in fear.
Again, cover under these policies is only provided if you are not travelling against the advice of the FCDO.
It’s important to note that travel insurance will only cover you if unexpected issues occur. So, if you travel to an area for which there is a known risk of war/conflict, your policy may not cover you.
If someone still wants to venture to a country in conflict the next question is: Is travel essential?
Cover For Travel Against Government Advice
Often, travel insurance is invalid if the government advises UK travellers against travel to a country or region in conflict. However, we can suggest travel insurance specialists ‘battleface’ who offer cover to many destinations, regardless of what is on the FCDO website. This ‘package’ policy provides various options and cover levels.
Sometimes, people visit a high-risk country as part of their job. For instance, journalists capture and cover the actions of terrorist groups as they arise in high-risk countries. This is where P J Hayman can assist because travel to high-risk destinations is not covered by a standard travel insurance policy.
Specialist Travel Insurance for High-Risk Countries
We work alongside Voyager Insurance Services Ltd to provide high-risk travel cover to help people visit territorial zones and areas. These areas include those that the FCDO has advised against travel. Plus, hazardous areas, in countries such as Egypt, Thailand, Pakistan, and India.
To enable us to provide cover we identify five key areas to create an individual risk assessment.
Five key areas we focus upon to provide high-risk cover for an individual are:
1. The nature and objective of their trip.
2. Their itinerary, transportation and ground arrangements.
3. Research on the area, which includes permits and details of the local rescue services.
4. The relevant experience of the individuals involved, about the nature of the trip and destination.
5. Trip arrangements. If the trip has been organised independently or through a recognised organisation or agency.
These five areas were outlined in a recent article in the International Travel & Health Insurance Journal (ITIJ) contributed to by our Director Peter Hayman.
Travel, with confidence in the event of a global conflict
We hope we’ve provided you with an understanding of what a global conflict is.
For over 30 years, P J Hayman’s mission has been to give travellers the confidence to travel without worry. Travel to high-risk countries is no exception.
Get in touch with our team of travel insurance specialists. They’ll be happy to share more details about our specialist products, which provide cover for a range of unforeseen risks.
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