The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued a new travel advice for the more mature travellers, the 55-year-olds and above, to make sure they are covered for every impulse as they travel abroad.
The advice followed the admission in a recent survey that nearly two-thirds of them do not take out travel insurance, but they take part in extreme sports, including bungee-jumping, parasailing and water skiing.
Foreign Office minister, Meg Munn said there’s a concern for over-55s having fun on holiday and that it was very important that they made some simple preparations to help avoid encountering difficulties while abroad.
“Acquiring adequate travel insurance is a must and health scares abroad can be avoided by visiting a GP for a health check before embarking on a holiday,” said the minister.
In the survey conducted for the Association of British Insurers, it was found that out of the 1,020 people aged 55 years and over interviewed, 20 per cent took more risks abroad than they would at home.
One-in-ten said they did not follow the safety advice they would give to their own children. And nearly one-in-five couples said they or their partner had been injured while on holiday abroad. Also, 65 per cent said they did not take out travel insurance on their last trip abroad.
More than half of those interviewed admitted to consuming more alcohol than usual, while a third said they indulged even more in an all-inclusive resort.
Most of the problems seen in the older generation Brits on holiday are caused by over-consumption of alcohol and food, British Vice-Consul in Rhodes, Rania Kossiori said.
The diplomat warned that drinking and staying too long in the sun could cause illness, just as undertaking strenuous activity like swimming or snorkelling after a large mill could put them in danger, adding that people have drowned in that way.
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