The COVID Pandemic Has Changed Everything, Don't Be Careless With The You Only Live Once Lifestyle

Virtual Ngabuburit with Zurich Travel Insurance (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The pandemic provides lessons to always be prepared to anticipate the unexpected. The lifestyle with the slogan 'You Only Live Once' aka YOLO needs to be rethought.

This term is used so that everyone takes advantage of every opportunity to enjoy life. According to travel blogger Marischka Prudence, the pandemic has drastically changed everything. Everything needs to be carefully prepared, including the matter of traveling.

"Even though there is a steady job, there can still be something unexpected, teaching us to be more prepared. I realize that insurance is very important," said Pru at an online press conference, Antara, Thursday, April 21.

During a pandemic, incidents that occur when traveling are not only about luggage being left behind or travel schedules changing, but also the risk of being infected with the corona virus.

Therefore, he chose to set aside funds for insurance just in case, rather than having unwanted things that actually made expenses swell.

Pru has a tip when it comes to buying travel insurance: take enough time to read it carefully and choose which one best meets individual needs.

"Don't be tight, make sure what is needed is covered," he stressed.

Preparations for a walk are now longer due to new health-related regulations. He considered that the habits of travelers had also shifted from being spontaneous to being full of plans.

"Preparation is longer but people enjoy the preparation," he said.

In 2022, in the midst of sloping cases, easing of restrictions and an increase in the number of people who have been vaccinated, he sees tourism booming. People who had not traveled far in two years were eager to return to adventure. Many domestic destinations are increasingly recognized because people are looking for alternative tourism outside of the same destination.

The moment of the pandemic also encourages people to get out of their comfort zone after trying a type of travel that was not their choice before.

"Those who used to be just cities, like shopping, so they like trekking and learning to dive. People want to try trips that can be enjoyed outside their homes at a distance," said Pru.

Now the travel trend is also recovering along with the easing of travel restrictions ahead of Eid al-Fitr where many people will return to their hometowns.

The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation's Balitbang survey in March 2022 predicts that nearly 75 million people will go home for Eid this year, an increase of about 170 percent compared to the prediction for going home in 2021. In fact, there was a movement of more than 100,000 passengers at Soekarno Hatta Airport in March 2022.

Zurich Insurance Indonesia's Chief Technical Officer, Rismauli Silaban, said that many were already on vacation because they had previously been delayed by the pandemic.

In December 2021, Zurich conducted research and noted that 85 percent of respondents plan to travel in the next six months and 90 percent of respondents plan domestic trips.

The types of travel that are in demand are also increasingly diverse after the pandemic, such as adventure in nature, solo traveling, and religious tourism.

Zurich previously also conducted a survey in 2020 to see traveler behavior towards travel risks and their insurance needs. This research reveals that customers prefer insurance products that have the most complete coverage (46.5 percent) and whose coverage can be tailored to their needs (46.3 percent).

"This research became our foundation in developing Zurich Travel Insurance. We as a customer-focused insurance company respond to travel trends and traveler needs by providing protection for various types of risks, ranging from the most common such as trip cancellations to more specific and complex risks such as when doing hobbies, winter sports or due to COVID-19," said Uli.