Senior peoples’ perception of travel related risks – A viewpoint to the future travel insurance cover
Terho, Hanna (2013)
Terho, Hanna
HAAGA-HELIA ammattikorkeakoulu
2013
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201305169011
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201305169011
Tiivistelmä
The aim of this thesis is to research seniors’ perception of travel related risks in order to produce better travel insurance products to this growing tourist segment in the future. Another objective of this thesis is on how these risks are perceived by seniors and which of the risks should the travel insurance cover. The commissioner of the thesis is Finnish insurance company who wished to be anonymous in this thesis.
The theoretical framework of the study introduces the six domains of tourism crisis, tourism safety and security issues in different perspectives and the definition of percep-tion of a risk. Also the senior traveller, their motive and travel patterns are explained. The theory also introduces the concept of travel insurance and travel claims.
The approach of the empirical study is quantitative. The participants of the question-naire survey are all members of Kansallinen Senioriliitto ry. Two questionnaire surveys were conducted in November 2012 in the two regional senior organisations in Vantaa. Altogether 143 participants answered the survey. The questionnaire consisted of only structured questions. The data was analysed by using Excel to provide information about how the participants perceived different travel risks and what were risks they would prefer the travel insurance to cover.
The findings showed that seniors travel both in Finland and abroad and most often the trip arrangements are done by the seniors themselves or tour operators. Most of the seniors did not know who their travel organiser is, but most of the senior have valid travel insurance always when travelling. The findings are that the older the senior be-come the less they travel.
The results also showed that seniors perceived travel risks were not same as the risks they would want travel insurance to cover. Environmental crises were perceived as the most threatening travel risks, but primarily wished travel insurance to cover possible costs of health related risks and airline/tour operator’s bankruptcy. Travel insurance companies should consider tailoring a specific travel insurance product for the needs of this group, which would cover the costs of airline/tour operator’s bankruptcy.
The theoretical framework of the study introduces the six domains of tourism crisis, tourism safety and security issues in different perspectives and the definition of percep-tion of a risk. Also the senior traveller, their motive and travel patterns are explained. The theory also introduces the concept of travel insurance and travel claims.
The approach of the empirical study is quantitative. The participants of the question-naire survey are all members of Kansallinen Senioriliitto ry. Two questionnaire surveys were conducted in November 2012 in the two regional senior organisations in Vantaa. Altogether 143 participants answered the survey. The questionnaire consisted of only structured questions. The data was analysed by using Excel to provide information about how the participants perceived different travel risks and what were risks they would prefer the travel insurance to cover.
The findings showed that seniors travel both in Finland and abroad and most often the trip arrangements are done by the seniors themselves or tour operators. Most of the seniors did not know who their travel organiser is, but most of the senior have valid travel insurance always when travelling. The findings are that the older the senior be-come the less they travel.
The results also showed that seniors perceived travel risks were not same as the risks they would want travel insurance to cover. Environmental crises were perceived as the most threatening travel risks, but primarily wished travel insurance to cover possible costs of health related risks and airline/tour operator’s bankruptcy. Travel insurance companies should consider tailoring a specific travel insurance product for the needs of this group, which would cover the costs of airline/tour operator’s bankruptcy.