What’s changing in leisure travel insurance right now

Leisure travel insurance behaviour is shifting in 2026, influenced by changing global conditions and evolving travel confidence. 

Without overcomplicating it, one thing is clear: clients are planning earlier, travelling broadly, and brokers who engage sooner are in a stronger position to shape outcomes. Here’s a snapshot of what we’re seeing across cora:

Who is travelling? 

Travel demand is spread across multiple age groups, with the strongest activity coming from: 

• 25–34 year olds  

• 18–24 year olds  

• 45–54 year olds  

• Under 18s  

A clear theme is the strength of family travel and younger travellers, often linked through group or family bookings. 

This reinforces the importance of age-aware conversations. Different groups are travelling for different reasons, with different expectations around cover, flexibility, and risk. 

When are clients buying insurance? 

Clients are purchasing travel insurance 80+ days before departure. 

This is a key shift. 

Insurance is no longer a last-minute decision. It is becoming part of the planning process itself. 

For brokers, this creates a clear opportunity to engage earlier, influence policy selection, and ensure clients understand their cover before travel plans are locked in. 

Where are clients travelling? 

Top destinations include: 

• Indonesia  

• Japan  

• Vietnam  

• Vanuatu  

• New Caledonia  

These reflect continued strong demand across the Asia-Pacific region, particularly for short to mid-haul leisure travel. 

What this means for brokers 

The biggest shift is timing. Clients are planning earlier, which means brokers who engage early are no longer just responding to demand, they are helping shape it. 

Here’s how to use this in practice: 

• Start conversations earlier
  Don’t wait for a quote request. If clients are booking travel, insurance should already be part of the conversation. Early engagement gives you more influence over product selection and coverage decisions.
• Segment your conversations by age and trip type
  You’re not speaking to one traveller profile. Families, young adults, and mid-life travellers all have different priorities. Tailor recommendations based on who is travelling and why.
• Use destination trends to add value
  Asia-Pacific remains a strong travel region, but each destination carries different risk profiles. Use this to educate clients on what matters most for their trip, not just what’s included. 

Travel insurance is becoming more planned, more segmented, and more proactive. 

For brokers, the advantage is simple: the earlier the conversation starts, the more value you can add.