Assessment of Travel Insurance Uptake Among Nigerian Tourists and Business Travelers

This study assesses the uptake of travel insurance among Nigerian tourists and business travelers, with data gathered from international departure terminals at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Despite significant growth in Nigerian international travel for tourism, education, healthcare, and business, the proportion of outbound travelers purchasing comprehensive travel insurance remains low relative to global averages. This research employs an intercept survey design targeting 250 departing international travelers at both airports over a four-week data collection period. Structured questionnaires assess travel insurance ownership, reasons for non-purchase, awareness of travel-related risks, and satisfaction among previous travel insurance claimants. The study also examines whether visa application requirements for travel insurance influence purchase behavior for specific destination countries. Descriptive statistics including frequency distributions and percentages characterize the sample. Logistic regression identifies significant demographic and behavioral predictors of travel insurance adoption. Preliminary findings are expected to reveal that mandatory visa insurance requirements drive the majority of purchases rather than voluntary risk awareness, suggesting a need for risk education campaigns targeting the traveling public. The study recommends that Nigerian travel agencies bundle travel insurance with ticket purchases and that NAICOM publish standardized travel insurance benefit disclosures. Keywords: Travel Insurance, Nigerian Travelers, International Travel, Risk Awareness, Insurance Uptake.