Backpackers taking trips to Thailand top the list of those making travel insurance claims, it was revealed today.
Claims following Thailand visits account for 22% of all backpackers’ claims, according to a travel insurance company.
The company added that British backpackers’ claims amounted to more than £6 million a year, with personal luggage claims accounting for more than 40% of this total and medical expenses more than 33%.
Lost documents and lost money accounted for more than 10% of claims.
After Thailand, the country generating the most claims from British backpackers was Australia, followed by India, the US and Brazil.
A spokesperson said: “Given the uncertain economic situation and the decline in the number of university places, more people are taking extended travel breaks.
“Our research shows that an incredible 3.3 million Britons have recently been or intend to go travelling abroad specifically to escape the misery of the UK recession.
“This, plus the fact that we believe crime around the world is generally increasing because of the global economic crisis, means we are seeing a big increase in claims under our backpacker travel insurance cover.”
