Natural disasters: why travellers should prepare for the unimaginable

Since the pandemic restrictions were removed last year, Hong Kong people’s passion for travel has rebounded with vigour. Trips abroad, whether to far-flung destinations in Southeast Asia or just over the border to Shenzhen, are very popular.

But one country, Japan, is proving to be one of the most visited destinations of them all. With its stunning ski resorts in the northern island of Hokkaido, to its tropical beaches in Okinawa – and not to mention its world-famous cuisine, historical sites and scenery, Japan is likely to be on many Hongkongers’ travel lists this year. 

And yet, in what was a very sad start to the year for the East Asian country, Japan suffered from two large disasters in the opening days of 2024. On New Year’s Day, Ishikawa Prefecture in the central part of the country was struck by an earthquake which tragically resulted in the deaths of over 200 people. Just a day later, there was an aviation disaster at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, which killed five.

These shocking events show that disasters, whether natural or man-made, can and do strike without warning. They remind us that travelling to any part of the world comes with bigger risks than merely losing your luggage at the airport or someone stealing your valuables. And with many Hong Kong residents still indulging in “revenge travel” right around the globe, the risk of being caught up in a natural disaster, while remote, is still very real.

If you do happen to find yourself in an area affected by a disaster, the chances are that your travel and accommodation plans will be adversely affected. In this situation, your first response will likely be to get out of disaster zone and seek safety – or even try to return to Hong Kong. All this can quickly become expensive if you have to book hotels while you await your flight out the country.

The best way to protect yourself financially is by purchasing travel insurance before you leave Hong Kong. MSIG’s iTravel Plus (Single Trip) offers a range of benefits, including coverage for trip rearrangement, trip cancellation or curtailment, and even an extension that covers terrorism. What follows are some hypothetical scenarios to illustrate how iTravel Plus (Single Trip) can help in the event of a disaster.

Ms Cheung is about to fly to a seaside resort in Southeast Asia but reports have come in about a tsunami approaching the coast. Her flight out of Hong Kong is delayed by more than 24 hours and it quickly becomes apparent that the damage to the resort and even the airport is so severe that she will not be embarking on her trip. Ms Cheung has taken out iTravel Plus (Single Trip), which covers her unused travel and accommodation up to HK$50,000, so she isn’t out of pocket as a result of the disaster.

In the far north of Europe, Mr Siu is enjoying an adventure holiday when an earthquake strikes. The area where he is staying is badly affected. He makes his way to the nearest airport only to find there are no departures for several days, which forces him to book accommodation in the meantime. Mr Siu bought iTravel Plus (Single Trip) before he left home, which covers the cost of his hotel for two nights, up to HK$1,000 per day, as well as the cost of transport across the island.

When you are travelling abroad, don’t leave anything to chance. You don’t want to find yourself in a potentially dangerous situation that poses a financial as well as a physical risk. Instead, give yourself the peace of mind to enjoy each moment of your trip to the fullest.

To find out about MSIG’s iTravel Plus (Single Trip), please click here.

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Read more:
Tis the season: worry free winter skiing with travel insurance
Why frequent travellers should prepare for all situations
Travel insurance: evaluate your coverage before you go for peace of mind

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