The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has doubled down on its goal to permanently protect the right of travel agents, tour operators and other accredited travel businesses to sell travel insurance at the time of booking.
A temporary exemption was secured by ATIA in 2021, however it is set to expire in October.
The industry body is now calling on the federal treasury to make the exemption permanent, arguing that not doing so would be detrimental to travellers and would also undermine small and medium-sized travel businesses across Australia.
ATIA warned that a forced delay between booking travel and purchasing insurance would lead to more Australians travelling uninsured or underinsured.
Most already buy travel insurance when they book their trip, ATIA pointed out, and to disrupt that process would result in more people being exposed to major medical and cancellation costs, while creating reduced certainty for travel businesses.
“This is about protecting the right of accredited Australian travel businesses to provide a complete service to their clients,” stated ATIA CEO Dean Long (pictured).
“Travel insurance at the time of booking is common sense. It protects travellers and it supports small business.
“If this exemption is allowed to lapse, more Australians will travel uninsured. That is the real-world consequence.”
