Federal government advises spring break vacationers to secure travel insurance

The federal government has issued an advisory for Canadians going on vacation during spring break, encouraging them to secure travel insurance, among other tips.

Everyone – including those in the prime of their health – must secure travel insurance, the government stated in its release. The release, which was published on the official federal website, even recommends that Canadians “should purchase the best travel insurance they can afford.” The insurance should cover for health, life, and disability, allowing travellers to avoid incurring emergency expenses such as hospitalization costs or medical treatment outside of Canada.

“The Government of Canada takes the safety and security of all Canadians abroad very seriously,” Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Pamela Goldsmith-Jones said in a statement. “We encourage spring-break travellers heading to international destinations to visit Travel.gc.ca before they leave.”

Other tips the release gave include:

• Before leaving Canada, check the Travel Advice and Advisories for in-depth information on your destination.
• Register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to receive the latest updates in case of an emergency abroad or a personal emergency at home.
• Be aware of your surroundings and always stay with your friends. Note that there have been reports of alleged sexual assaults at tourist resorts carried out by resort staff and, in some cases, by other tourists.
• For those who plan on going to parties, bars or nightclubs while abroad, it is important to follow some safety rules:
  • Alcohol should only be consumed responsibly. Some localities may not tolerate excessive drinking.
  • While illegal drugs are commonly used in some parts of the world, their purchase, consumption, import and export are banned almost everywhere. Note that cannabis, while legal in Canada, is illegal in many foreign jurisdictions.