Zurich (Hong Kong) Launches GBA Go! — Simple and Tailored Insurance Coverage for Greater Bay Area travelers

Explore the Greater Bay Area (GBA) with peace of mind, thanks to our innovative plan for up to two companions!

• Zurich’s recent data showed a 30% year-on-year growth in the number of insured persons travelling to China from March to June 2024. Additionally, the proportion of travelers to China among all insured persons has risen by 36% during the same period.
• Zurich’s Q1 claims data indicated that the most common claims involve medical care and travel delays, highlighting the immediate insurance needs of northbound travelers.
• The new GBA Go! travel insurance plan is specifically designed for travelers visiting the GBA for short trips. It provides the most essential coverage for dining, entertainment, and medical transportation, maximizing value for travelers!
• Zurich is the first insurer to provide seamless emergency medical evacuation services. In the event of a medical emergency, patients will be swiftly transported to a Hong Kong hospital's A&E under Zurich’s professional care, ensuring no delays at the border.
• With premiums starting at just HKD 1.8 per day per person, GBA Go! provides coverage for both solo travelers and groups of two or three. The plan includes unlimited short trips with different companions over three or six months, enabling customers to explore GBA with family and friends any time!
• Continuing our collaboration with Domain5, a service brand of Hutchison Telecommunications (Hong Kong) Limited, the GBA Go! travel insurance featuring exclusive collaborative deals for customers of 3 Hong Kong, SUPREME, SoSIM and MO+ will also be launched soon.

During the recent summer peak season (July to August), tourist traffic at the Shenzhen-Hong Kong land crossings surged, with a record 530,000 people¹entering the mainland in a single day - the highest since the complete border reopening. This revival in tourism has spurred economic growth in the GBA. This year, during the National Day Golden Week, Guangdong's tourism revenue alone surpassed 50 billion².

Additionally, the development of cross-sea passages and the new Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link had made self-driving tours increasingly popular among Hongkongers traveling to Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and other GBA cities. As a result, Zhongshan, Huizhou, and Dongguan have emerged as favoured weekend getaway destinations for Hong Kong tourists.

 

GBA travel continues to thrive amid soaring demand for insurance coverage

Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and other GBA cities have become popular weekend and vacation destinations for Hongkongers, highlighting the significant demand for travel insurance in the region.

Zurich Insurance (Hong Kong) (“Zurich”) , a short-term travel insurance product designed to meet this need. GBA Go! offers tailored, multifaceted support that focuses on the unique demands of Greater Bay Area trips, ensuring safe and enjoyable travel experiences for Hong Kong tourists.GBA Go!has long been a preferred insurer for travel insurance products. With the ongoing surge in short trips to the GBA, it has become clear that existing general travel insurance options - typically designed for long-term travel - are less appealing to northbound travelers, creating an insurance gap. In response, Zurich has launched

 

Fill the insurance gap in travel insurance via GBA Go!

According to the latest findings from Zurich, the number of insured individuals traveling to China increased by 30%, accompanied by a 19% rise in policy count from March to June 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. Additionally, the proportion of travelers to China among all insured persons grew by 36% during this time frame.

³, customers enjoy unlimited travel coverage for dining, entertainment, transportation, and medical emergency support for trips to GBA cities, eliminating the need to apply for every single trip. Premiums start as low as HKD 1.8 per person per dayGBA Go! travel insurance product, providing comprehensive insurance coverage for short-haul travel in the GBA. With GBA Go!As the tourism industry in the Greater Bay Area flourishes, it is increasingly important to have cross-border travel protection. Zurich's claims statistics for Q1 2024 indicated that the most common claims for travel insurance to China were medical-related (32.3%) and travel delays (7.6%). In response, Zurich has launched the streamlined and convenient , making it more affordable than spending an extra HKD 2 for an iced drink at Cha Chaan Tengs. Recognizing that the purpose of each trip can vary for short-haul travelers and their companions, Zurich provides flexibility, allowing up to two companions to travel with the policyholder at an affordable price. This coverage offers six months of unlimited travel protection for the insured individual and up to two companions, ensuring peace of mind for all travelers.

Jim Qin, Chief Executive Officer of General Insurance at Zurich Insurance (Hong Kong) is tailored for frequent short-term travelers to the GBA, offering targeted coverage to minimize premiums and narrow down the insurance gap. With our three-month or six-month packages, travelers can enjoy their trips with just one comprehensive insurance plan, allowing them to explore the GBA without any worries."GBA Go! says, “With the upsurge in GBA tourism, we've observed a trend of customers are making short trips to the GBA without any insurance protection. Many existing travel insurance products in the market are designed for longer trips, while short-haul travelers are seeking more focused and budget-friendly protection.

 

First in market to offer seamless GBA emergency assistance

As the first insurer to offer seamless emergency medical evacuation services, Zurich can swiftly transfer customers to a Hong Kong hospital's A&E department in the event of a medical emergency. This approach eliminates the need for handovers between service providers and minimizes border delays. If cross-border evacuation is not feasible due to medical restrictions, we can transport customers to the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, ensuring access to reliable, high-quality medical care.

 

Depart anytime with travel companions covered!

No matter travelers are visiting GBA alone or with different friends or family members, GBA Go! offers the flexibility that is crucial for short-haul trips. With the companion plan, GBA Go! provides coverage for all travel companions without the need to pre-register their names. Additionally, with the three-month and six-month unlimited trip options, travelers can choose to cover up to two companions and explore the GBA every weekend or as often as they wish, all with peace of mind.

• 3-month premium: HKD 380 (1 applicant), HKD 580 (1 applicant and 1 companion), and HKD 780 (1 applicant and 2 companions).
• 6-month premium: HKD 580 (1 applicant), HKD 780 (1 applicant and 1 companion), and HKD 980 (1 applicant and 2 companions).

Protection for ‘fun seekers’ and ‘foodies'

In recent years, certain indoor and outdoor activities - such as go-kart racing in Shenzhen, concerts in Macao, indoor skiing in Guangzhou, and water sports like stand-up paddleboarding or windsurfing - have gained popularity among Hongkongers, prompting an increase in northbound travels. Committed to a customer-centric approach, Zurich specifically offers coverage for these kinds of activities, ensuring that customers can fully enjoy their trips.

• Cash allowance for inpatient stays in GBA hospitals due to accidents occurring during go-kart racing, golf, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, sailing, windsurfing, indoor adventure activities, and traffic accidents.
• Reimburse the non-recoverable value (face value) of tickets for events or entrances with specific dates and times in the event of serious injury or serious illness or specific adverse weather conditions.

The GBA is a food lovers’ paradise, boasting a wide variety of culinary delights from exquisite dim sum to unique delicacies from different provinces. If travelers suffer from acute gastroenteritis by eating or drinking contaminated food or drinks, GBA Go!’s foodie protection can be an immediate help. It includes cash allowances for medical treatment in hospitals in the GBA or Hong Kong due to food poisoning.

 

Provide cash allowance for traffic accidents and high-speed rail delays

Self-driving has become a popular way to travel to the GBA. In the first five months of this year, the number of travelers passing through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Zhuhai Highway Port exceeded 10 million⁴. In light of this, GBA Go! includes coverage for traffic accidents and travel delays. Whether it involves a serious injury while driving to the mainland, an accident while using a ride-hailing service, or delays on high-speed rail, customers will receive a cash allowance under the transportation coverage.

 

• Cash allowance for serious injuries sustained during inpatient stays in GBA hospitals (or within one day after your return to Hong Kong) due to traffic accidents involving drivers and passengers of northbound travel in Hong Kong vehicles.
• Cash allowance for accidental injuries as a passenger in a ride-hailing service or taxi.
• Cash allowances for high-speed rail delays of HKD $350 per person for the first three full hours of delay and HKD $300 for each additional six full hours thereafter.

also includes emergency assistance. For instance, if a travel document is lost, the insured person will receive an allowance to cover the cost of obtaining a temporary travel document, as well as any associated emergency accommodation expenses.GBA Go!In addition to the abovementioned traffic accident coverage,

For more product information, please refer to https://www.zurich.com.hk/en/products/travel/gba-go

 

Exclusive offers launching this year with Domain5, a service brand of HTHK

At the beginning of the year, Zurich strategically collaborated with Domain5, a service brand of Hutchison Telecommunications (Hong Kong) Limited (“HTHK”). This collaboration offered customers of 3 Hong Kong, SUPREME, SoSIM and MO+ a travel insurance promotion that included the one-stop services such as data roaming and travel insurance. This initiative aimed to deliver the most comprehensive services and protection to customers.

Due to the overwhelming market response, we are excited to announce the upcoming launch of the GBA Go! travel insurance, featuring exclusive collaborative offers this year. Further details will be announced in due course.

With the growing economic and cultural exchanges in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, along with an increasing diversity of cultural and tourism experiences, the region has emerged as a sought-after travel destination for Hongkongers. Riding on this trend, Zurich’s GBA Go! travel insurance plan has been launched to meet market demands, address the specific needs of customers and ensure the protection of travelers in the GBA, thereby enhancing their overall travel experience.

 

Remarks: 

Source¹: Shenzhen Municipal People's Government

Source²: Information Office, the People's Government of Guangdong Province

³ The daily premium is calculated based on six months of unlimited travel, covering the policyholder and two traveling companions.

Source⁴: Central People's Government Portal 

 

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