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■浮潛等高危活動受港人歡迎，但是否受到旅遊保險的保障呢？ 資料圖片
埃及熱氣球慘劇死難者家屬昨日（3月12日）召開記者會表示，行程表上雖列明熱氣球行程包括早餐及保險，但承保機構卻以熱氣球為「空中活動」不在承保範圍而拒絕賠償。當局須調查有關旅行社行程表與實際投保內容為何不一致，防止旅行社有欺騙旅客的情況，同時應進一步規管旅遊保險宣傳條文和本港高危活動旅行團，旅客出團前亦應細閱投保細則，保障自己的權益。
近年各國興起如浮潛、滑雪和激流木筏等不少高危旅遊活動，受到港人熱愛，成為不少旅行社招徠旅客的重點推介項目。這些高危項目往往能為導遊領隊帶來可觀回佣，但旅行社關於高危活動的推介手法，長久以來存在管理不嚴、缺乏規範的漏洞，令旅客權益受損。
不少旅行社強調出團前已替旅客購買旅遊保險，以爭取成團機會，但是具體金額和保障內容並未詳細交代，旅客往往在意外發生後，始知不受保障。當局必須調查旅行社是否涉及宣傳失實行為，同時應進一步規範旅行社提供旅遊保險產品細則和宣傳用字，防止旅行社以廉價保險作招徠。
Monitor travel insurance advertisements to protect the interests of travelers
In the press conference on 12 March, families of the victims in the Egypt hot balloon tragedy accused insurance companies of refusing to make compensations on the grounds that hot balloon journey was an 浾ir activity* not covered in the insurance plan despite the fact that the itinerary had clearly stated that the hot balloon journey included breakfast and insurance. The authorities ought to make investigations into why there is a discrepancy between the travel agency掇 itinerary and the actual insurance coverage in order to prevent travel agencies from cheating travelers. Furthermore, both the text of travel insurance advertisements and tours with high risk activities dispatched from Hong Kong should be regulated. Travelers should also read the details of their insurance policies carefully before departure to protect their own interests.
In recent years, a number of high risk tourist activities, such as snorkeling, skiing and white water rafting, have mushroomed in various parts of the world. These activities are very popular among Hong Kong people and so have become key promotion items of many travel agencies to attract customers. These high risk activities can often bring substantial rebate to tour guides. However, tactics used by travel agencies in promoting these high risk activities have not been monitored properly and there exists a lack of standardization. This may often hurt the interests of the travelers.
Quite some travel agencies stress that they have already purchased travel insurance for their customers before departure in order to boost the chance of successful tours. Nevertheless, the insured amount and insurance coverage are not explained to the customers in details. Only after an accident has occurred would the travelers discover that many items are not covered under the policies. The authorities must investigate whether there is untruthful advertising by travel agencies and at the same time the content and advertisements of travel insurance products should be standardized to prohibit travel agencies from luring customers with cheap insurance package.（節自香港《文匯報》2013年3月13日） ■Translation by Tung-ming [ tungming23@gmail.com ]
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