Some 13.4m Brits are set to take the risk of going on holiday without travel insurance this summer, according to research by Sainsbury's Bank.
Tight finances appear to be a factor in the trend, with 2.5m holidaymakers (18%) saying they can't afford insurance, although the most common reason, given by 4.1m people (31%), was that they don't need it.
People aged 55 to 64 are the most likely to travel without insurance, according to the research, with 32% set to do so this summer, followed by 25- to 34-year-olds (30%).
Steve Johnson of Sainsbury's Bank said that insurance is 'the one thing that should not be omitted', regardless of how much people want to save money.
He added: 'It's extremely concerning to see how many people are neglecting to take out insurance when going away on holiday.
'It's a false economy to do without it and [it] should be regarded as a holiday essential, just as important as packing your passport.'
On a location basis, people in the East Midlands and East Anglia were found to be the most likely to travel without cover, while those in Scotland are the least likely to neglect insurance.
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