Of those who admitted taking chances, some 34% said it was because they were travelling within the UK and Ireland, while 28% thought it simply wasn’t necessary.
However, the Consumer Council's Scott Kennerly insisted this complacency could have serious consequences.
He explained: “When travel plans are disrupted it can have a significant financial and emotional impact on consumers.
“Our research has revealed that although many consumers recognise the importance of having appropriate travel insurance, almost half of those surveyed who had travelled in the last five years did not take it out,” he continued.
Those who did buy travel insurance cited illness abroad as the single biggest motivating factor. Suffering acute appendicitis in America alone will set travellers back over £22,000, experts suggest.
