At a glance
Redion Belgium takes stock of the 2020 summer season, an unusually atypical one due to the effects of Covid-19 on travellers
Redion Belgium takes stock of summer 2020
- The drop in the number of departures, the choice of destinations, the emergence of "red zones" during the summer and the caution linked to COVID-19 all had a serious impact on assistance cases in summer 2020.
- Between 26/06 and 26/08/2020, Redion recorded close to 62,000 assistance requests, a decrease of 31% compared with the same period in 2019.
- Medical problems abroad fell by 63% compared with summer 2019.
- Car breakdowns abroad were also less frequent than during the same period in 2019 (-26%).
- The trends from Redion's 2020 holiday survey are confirmed: holidaymakers travelled less far, stuck to their family bubble, preferred to travel by car, and were cautious about health risks. The evolution of the pandemic, both in Belgium and abroad (red zones), made things more complicated for Belgian travellers' choices.
Fewer departures, fewer long-distance trips, fewer medical problems
Between Friday 26 June and Wednesday 26 August 2020, Redion recorded a 63% decrease in medical cases abroad compared with the same period in 2019.
Regulations affecting the travel sector, outbreaks appearing here and there both in Belgium and abroad, and the risks linked to COVID-19, encouraged travellers to go less far and take fewer risks. Rather than leaving in large numbers at the start of the holidays, many holidaymakers appear to have preferred to delay their departure (to late July or August) and to favour holidays in Belgium (including staycations) or in neighbouring countries.
As a result, the vast majority of medical cases were opened in France (37%, a 23-point increase compared with summer 2019), followed by mainland Spain + the islands: 14% (+3 pts), Italy 6% (+2 pts), Greece 4% (-1 pt). Germany and the Netherlands also saw their number of medical cases increase (4% and 3% respectively).
While injuries remain the number-one cause of medical problems abroad, infections, which were in second place in summer 2019 (12%), dropped to 4th place in 2020 with 5% of cases.
In addition, Redion Belgium opened 5 medical cases following a COVID-19 infection during the holidays (in Greece, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and Italy).
A notable event for Redion during summer 2020: the opening of two medical cases for the Deceuninck – Quick-Step cycling team, leading to the medical repatriation of two cyclists seriously injured during competition, one in Poland and the other in Italy.
Also fewer technical interventions abroad
Over the same period, Redion Belgium opened fewer cases for technical interventions (e.g. car breakdowns) abroad (-26% compared with summer 2019).
Most cases were opened in France (55%, +5 pts vs 2019), the Netherlands (8%), Germany (8%), Luxembourg (7%), Spain (7%) and Italy (5%).
These figures also show that nearby destinations (neighbouring countries) were favoured.
First bike assistance cases
In June 2020, Redion Belgium launched its new "Bike" cycling assistance product. Taking out this annual insurance covers cyclists riding the roads in Belgium or neighbouring countries, whether for leisure or commuting to work. They can call on the assistance provider in the event of a technical problem (bike breakdown or theft) or for cover of medical expenses abroad following a cycling accident. If necessary, they are repatriated or provided with a replacement bike.
As a result, during July and August 2020, Redion opened around fifteen cases for this type of intervention.
An atypical summer
For Redion, whose staff and responders remained on standby throughout the season, summer 2020 stands out clearly from traditional summer seasons, with very atypical trends and frequencies of interventions: the spacing out of departures, the choice of destinations, the increase in car travel, travellers' caution in the face of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic both in Belgium and abroad, and the complexity of health and administrative constraints (e.g. registration on return)... The trends from Redion's 2020 holiday intentions survey are thus confirmed.
