Know What Thailand’S New Visitor Travel Insurance Does and Doesn’T Cover, Say Thai Law Firms
While a new online travel insurance scheme for foreign visitors now being offered by Thailand covers a range of unforeseen events from accidents to baggage loss, Thai law firms say it's just as important for purchasers to know what the scheme does not cover.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand in conjunction with four local insurance companies is offering the €Thailand Travel Shield' insurance scheme to visitors to Thailand who are unable to get insurance coverage in their own countries due to the travel advisories imposed by various foreign governments.
The insurance companies are Muang Thai Insurance, Chao Phaya Insurance, Siam City Insurance and Krungthai Panich Insurance.
Visitors can purchase the insurance coverage online for events/instances ranging from accidents and trip cancellation to loss or damage of baggage/personal belongings and emergency hotel accommodation.
Visitors using the scheme, say Thai law firms, should also find out what is excluded from the coverage. This includes accidents while under the influence of alcohol, indulging in extreme sports and getting involved in public brawls.
Many a Thai law firm and international law firm in Thailand can provide valuable advice and services on various topics and issues, to Thais, expats and foreign visitors. This ranges from legal, accounting, immigration, tax consulting, auditing services and Thai law in general, to a Thailand work permit and Thai visa service and even starting a business in Thailand.
The Thailand Travel Shield scheme is being publicized worldwide by the Tourism Authority of Thailand through its international offices, while the four insurance companies are also promoting the scheme on their websites.
The insurance coverage can be purchased online at http://www.tourismthailand.org/thailandtravelshield. The website lists FAQs and other information about the scheme and also details how to go about making a claim.
The travel insurance policies provide instant coverage up to the value of Bt1 million or Bt2 million. The scheme's premium table offers package options of one to seven days, 8 to 14 days, 15 to 30 days, 31 to 60 days and annual trip. Premium ranges from Bt650 or Bt1,100 for the one to seven day package up to Bt6,900 or Bt12,000 for the annual trip package.
Thai media reported the Thailand Travel Shield scheme had received 219 applicants from 44 countries in the first month of its formal launch, with a total premium value of Bt 493,100. The largest number of applicants received in the period of 24 July to 21 August 2014 were from Italy (72), Australia (18) and Canada (16).
The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thawatchai Arunyik, was quoted as saying: €We are very encouraged by this result. It shows that the project is off to a good start. We anticipate that additional marketing and word-of-mouth publicity will help it become more widely-known and help visitors to travel to Thailand with complete peace of mind.€
Those who purchase the Thailand Travel Shield coverage can also avail themselves if necessary of 24 hour emergency assistance by Allianz Global Assistance.
The Medical and Travel Assistance Services provides pre-trip information such as inoculations, weather, exchange rates, telephone medical advice, medical service provider referral, assistance in case of loss of luggage/passport assistance and embassy referral.
It's also hoped the introduction of the Thailand Travel Shield scheme will help spur flagging tourism arrivals to the kingdom. Tourism department figures displayed a 10.9 per cent drop in international tourists in July compared to a year earlier, showing the industry has not yet recovered from the impact of prolonged political tension.
July 2014 saw 1.91 million international arrivals. The figure for July 2013 was 2.15 million.
For the first seven months of 2014 international arrivals totaled 13.62 million, down 10.7 per cent on the 15.26 million seen in the same period of 2013.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand in conjunction with four local insurance companies is offering the €Thailand Travel Shield' insurance scheme to visitors to Thailand who are unable to get insurance coverage in their own countries due to the travel advisories imposed by various foreign governments.
The insurance companies are Muang Thai Insurance, Chao Phaya Insurance, Siam City Insurance and Krungthai Panich Insurance.
Visitors can purchase the insurance coverage online for events/instances ranging from accidents and trip cancellation to loss or damage of baggage/personal belongings and emergency hotel accommodation.
Visitors using the scheme, say Thai law firms, should also find out what is excluded from the coverage. This includes accidents while under the influence of alcohol, indulging in extreme sports and getting involved in public brawls.
Many a Thai law firm and international law firm in Thailand can provide valuable advice and services on various topics and issues, to Thais, expats and foreign visitors. This ranges from legal, accounting, immigration, tax consulting, auditing services and Thai law in general, to a Thailand work permit and Thai visa service and even starting a business in Thailand.
The Thailand Travel Shield scheme is being publicized worldwide by the Tourism Authority of Thailand through its international offices, while the four insurance companies are also promoting the scheme on their websites.
The insurance coverage can be purchased online at http://www.tourismthailand.org/thailandtravelshield. The website lists FAQs and other information about the scheme and also details how to go about making a claim.
The travel insurance policies provide instant coverage up to the value of Bt1 million or Bt2 million. The scheme's premium table offers package options of one to seven days, 8 to 14 days, 15 to 30 days, 31 to 60 days and annual trip. Premium ranges from Bt650 or Bt1,100 for the one to seven day package up to Bt6,900 or Bt12,000 for the annual trip package.
Thai media reported the Thailand Travel Shield scheme had received 219 applicants from 44 countries in the first month of its formal launch, with a total premium value of Bt 493,100. The largest number of applicants received in the period of 24 July to 21 August 2014 were from Italy (72), Australia (18) and Canada (16).
The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thawatchai Arunyik, was quoted as saying: €We are very encouraged by this result. It shows that the project is off to a good start. We anticipate that additional marketing and word-of-mouth publicity will help it become more widely-known and help visitors to travel to Thailand with complete peace of mind.€
Those who purchase the Thailand Travel Shield coverage can also avail themselves if necessary of 24 hour emergency assistance by Allianz Global Assistance.
The Medical and Travel Assistance Services provides pre-trip information such as inoculations, weather, exchange rates, telephone medical advice, medical service provider referral, assistance in case of loss of luggage/passport assistance and embassy referral.
It's also hoped the introduction of the Thailand Travel Shield scheme will help spur flagging tourism arrivals to the kingdom. Tourism department figures displayed a 10.9 per cent drop in international tourists in July compared to a year earlier, showing the industry has not yet recovered from the impact of prolonged political tension.
July 2014 saw 1.91 million international arrivals. The figure for July 2013 was 2.15 million.
For the first seven months of 2014 international arrivals totaled 13.62 million, down 10.7 per cent on the 15.26 million seen in the same period of 2013.