| Travel Insurance Destination Report: South East | | | | Safety |
| Asia February 12th, 2010 | | | | | There are presently unresolved political tensions |
| South East Asia is an enormously popular tourist | | | | across Fiji, but mainly in Suva. If you are travelling |
| destination. The combination of relatively weak | | | | to Suva, the government's safety warning level is |
| local economies compared to the West, a | | | | at the third highest of five levels. For Fiji overall, it |
| beautiful climate, delicious food and picturesque | | | | is set at 2 out of five, or simply, ‘Exercise |
| settings mean that almost every Western | | | | Caution'. |
| overseas traveller makes it to South East Asia at | | | | Thailand |
| least once. However it is also a relatively wild | | | | Health |
| place in terms of health and also safety. Today | | | | In addition to the ordinary South East Asian |
| we look through the risks inherent in travel to | | | | diseases mentioned above, Thailand also has |
| popular South East Asian countries, and how they | | | | regular cases of Japanese encephalitis, rabies and |
| should impact on your choices about travel | | | | malaria. There are often animals in the streets, |
| insurance. | | | | either for sale or wandering about in Thailand |
| Bali | | | | – avoid them to stay healthy and avoid |
| Health | | | | making a medical travel insurance claim! |
| As a developing country, Bali has several disease | | | | Safety |
| uncommon in the West as endemic there. | | | | Most travelers from Australia to Thailand go to |
| Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus and cholera | | | | Bangkok or Phuket, where the alert level from |
| are actually quite common. All of these can be | | | | the government is set at 3 out of 5 – |
| vaccinated against. Malaria and dengue fever, | | | | ‘High Degree of Caution'. However for certain |
| however, which are also common, have no | | | | provinces – Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and |
| vaccination. You should avoid insects using | | | | Songkhla – the highest alert level has been |
| repellent and timing your outside time to the least | | | | enacted. The government is asking people not to |
| insect-prone parts of the day. | | | | travel to these areas at all, because of terrorist |
| Japanese encephalitis, a rare but dangerous | | | | attacks and bombings on almost a daily basis. |
| disease, also exists in Indonesia. There is a | | | | Some things just can't cover … we recommend |
| separate expensive, but definitely necessary | | | | following the government's advice here. |
| vaccination for this. The highest level of medical | | | | Vietnam |
| travel insurance is recommended. | | | | Health |
| Safety | | | | Vietnam is quite close to Thailand, and faces the |
| The Australian government is currently advising | | | | same health issues as the peninsular country. Get |
| citizens to reconsider their need to travel to Bali, | | | | all your vaccinations before you go and practice |
| because of the very high threat of a terrorist | | | | safe eating and drinking to avoid making medical |
| attack. | | | | travel insurance claims. |
| Fiji | | | | Safety |
| Health | | | | The political and social situation in the country is |
| Hepatitis, typhoid, measles mumps and rubella, | | | | currently quite stable, and the government is |
| tetanus all exist in Fiji. Dengue fever and traveller's | | | | simply advising you to exercise caution to avoid |
| diarrhea are also common, but insect avoidance, | | | | becoming the victim of criminal activity. However, |
| sensible eating and drinking, and travel vaccinations | | | | the high risk of developing health issues means |
| will help you stay healthy in Fiji. Fiji is actually quite | | | | you should consider getting travel insurance that |
| safe, health-wise. | | | | will cover all financial aspects of illness. |