Firms Push Travel Insurance to Foreign Visitors for World Cup

June 3 - A quick glance on the internet will show you just how seriously foreign travelers are taking the warnings by their insurance companies to take out the right cover when they visit South Africa this month.

Thousands are expected to visit the country to watch the World Cup and international insurance groups are telling their customers to ensure that they have enough cover.

It is no secret that international visitors are wary about South Africa's high crime rates and the right cover would pay out on anything from theft, to injury and even death resulting from crime.

But cover is not necessarily linked to crime. Other things could go wrong, especially when we are dealing with such a huge tournament on an international scale, with incredible logistics involved.

Anything could go wrong in terms of travel arrangements, internal transport, hotel bookings and so forth.

As such, visitors are being warned to cover themselves against costs incurred for changed travel arrangements that were beyond their control.

Fans are being encouraged not to wait until the last minute to take out insurance policies and that travel insurance should be made a priority.

"Football fever is sweeping the nation and those fans fortunate to be heading to South Africa will be making sure everything is in place for what is set to be the trip of a lifetime," said the Head of General Insurance at the UK based M&S .

"Tickets for the matches will no doubt be hot property, but fans should also think about what they would do if the worst happens. Travel insurance can provide financial support long before you step on a flight, so England fans should make it a priority to invest in a comprehensive policy now."