Travel insurance experts Direct Travel today backed calls for young holidaymakers to make sure they have insurance cover for risky activities.

(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED KINGDOM - July 8th, 2013 - Medical bills for uninsured accidents can be eye-watering, with personal injury claims averaging £7,500* – but fewer than half of young Britons check their travel insurance covers risky pursuits, according to a Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) survey.

Yet holiday insurance covering dozens of adventurous activities can be obtained from just a few pounds, the Direct Travel experts said.

'Sadly we know from experience that some young people do not realise they could face huge medical bills if they are injured during a holiday activity and do not have adequate travel insurance,' a Direct Travel spokesman said.

'We cover more than 100 sports and activities at no extra charge and our Europe policies start at £2.75, so just a small investment in holiday insurance can provide peace of mind.'

Rafting, bungee jumping, dog sledding, mountain biking, jet-skiing, tandem parachute jumping, safari and banana boating and even gorilla trekking are all activities covered for personal accident by travel insurance from Direct Travel. Medical expenses can be covered up to £20 million, depending on the policy chosen.

The FCO survey found that:

·         Four out of five young travellers take part in more adventurous activities when they are away but only 45% check their cover.

·         A fifth of 16-24 year olds have used a holiday moped or quad bike; a third have been on a jet-ski or done other watersports and one in eight have tried skydiving or bungee jumping.

·         Two-thirds said the weather made them want to try new things, while four in ten felt more confident on holiday.

The FCO said its staff helped thousands of Britons every year who had taken out the wrong cover or invalidated their policy.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Mark Simmonds said: 'An emergency abroad can be extremely expensive. This is why we urge people to take out a suitable insurance policy which covers them for everything that they want to do while on holiday.'

Dr Rachel Andrew, a psychologist, said young people were more likely to take risks, feel too embarrassed to say no when they were with a group, try out new things, and not think through the consequences. Risk-taking could feel like liberation after the pressure of exams, study and work, she said.

Half of British holidaymakers (48%) have no travel insurance at all, according to latest figures from ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents.)

*The FCO uses the Post Office definition of personal accident: if you sustain accidental bodily injury during the period of insurance and the injury results in your death or disability.

Notes for Editors

Established in late 1992 and trading since 1993, Direct Travel Insurance specialises in travel insurance for individual travellers, couples and families up to the age of 75. Direct Travel Insurance offers a range of cover options and added benefits including cover for over 100 sports and activities enabling customers to tailor their policies for single trip, annual multi trip, backpacking and winter sports.

All travel insurance policies are underwritten by AIG Europe Limited. Direct Travel Insurance is a trading name of UNAT Direct Insurance Management Limited, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

This information can be checked by visiting the FCA website.

Direct travel Insurance policies do not cover undisclosed pre-existing medical conditions or travel to or through Afghanistan, Cuba, Liberia and Sudan or countries which the Foreign & Commonwealth Office have warned against all but essential trouble.

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