RBC Tracks The Summer Trends
Summer is here.
And with the Victoria Day weekend just passed, Canadians are putting the finishing touches on their travel plans – and not surprisingly, as the country gears up for its 150th birthday celebrations, Canada is THE hot spot for vacations in 2017.
In fact, a recently released RBC Insurance survey offered a double dose of good news revealing that 79% of Canadians are planning to travel in 2017 and a majority (60%) are planning a staycation here in the true north.
RBC also found that as millions of Canadians prepare to hit the road, 75% said they’d never leave home without their cellphones; securing their home (61%); and doing a vehicle tune-up (51%).
On the other hand, 60% would leave home without purchasing travel insurance.
Stacey Hughes-Brooks, head of travel, RBC Insurance, observed of the findings:
“It’s great to see that Canadians of all ages are going to be visiting friends and family or exploring this great country as we celebrate our 150th birthday.”
However, Hughes-Brooks continued:
“While we weren’t surprised to see cell phones topping the list of items travellers would never leave home without, it’s alarming that protecting their vacation plans with travel insurance was at the bottom of the list.”
The RBC survey reported that 53% of Canadians travelling within Canada this year — but outside of their home province — were not likely to purchase travel insurance for their trip.
Close to half (46%) of those said they don’t need it, as they are already covered by their provincial health care plan and 39% said they already have travel insurance through their credit card or group benefits plan.
On the other hand, 75% of those planning to travel internationally this year indicated they would purchase travel insurance for their trip.
A majority (61%) of those not likely to buy travel insurance for international trips say they’re already covered through their credit card or group benefits plan while 15% are willing to take their chances for a smooth trip.
Hughes-Brooks said:
“Whether you’re planning a staycation or traveling internationally, travel insurance is something you should pack. It brings peace of mind to know that if you experience a health issue or your trip is interrupted, you will be taken care of.”
And she continued:
“Most travellers are aware of the need for insurance while out of country but there’s a misconception that you don’t need it while traveling domestically. Canadians need to be aware that government health plans may not cover all medical expenses outside of their home province. Items like air ambulances, X-rays, prescription drugs or emergency dental work are often not included.”
