Travel Agents agree need for insurance awareness to support travel insurance growth

Posted Thursday 7th May 2015

Worldwide Insurance Solutions (WIS) last month contacted travel agents across Dubai to seek their views on travel insurance. In the build up to the official launch of WIS and WISConnetcz, the cutting edge technology platform, travel agents were asked a series of questions regarding the importance of travel insurance.

Initial survey results show that the vast majority of travel agents see a need for travel insurance, but that lack of awareness of insurance by the customer is a factor that limits purchase at the time of a travel booking.

Travel agents also agree that to support travel insurance growth, they need an effective solution to provide the seamless production of insurance quotations and policies at the time of the travel journey booking.

Explained Jonathan Cooper, Founder & Managing Director of WIS,

"Our survey is designed to gather views across the travel industry with regards to travel insurance.

Key questions we addressed were
"Why do customers buy travel insurance?", and
"How can it be made easier for the customer to purchase travel insurance?"

While the full survey results will only be available later this month, our initial findings are interesting and support a number of views that are behind the development of WIS technology solutions.

Insurance awareness was seen as a real barrier to purchase with customers unsure of the need for travel insurance, what the benefits are and what is actually provided by a travel insurance policy. In addition, travel agents identified the overall sales process as critical with access to a quick and easy to use system, delivering instant quotations and cover in their office.

This second point is where WISConnectz can play a valuable role for the travel agent- allowing them to produce either a quotation or a policy with a few simple clicks - and all backed by local and international insurers providing innovative cover and outstanding service.

Increasing travel insurance awareness is a more of a long term approach and here at WIS we will look to raise awareness with the general public through the broader media - highlighting the tremendous benefits and numerous features that are provided by a relatively low cost travel insurance policy.

We will also work with our travel agency partners to provide then with expert training and tools that allow them to promote the range of covers and benefits of a travel insurance policy. This will allow them to increase travel insurance sales and at the same time proving real value and solutions for their customers."

The detailed results of the travel agency survey will be released later this month in May and made available to our parents through this website.