Ethical Travel Insurance Marketing ploy or real innovation?

There is no doubt that the use of any of these labels opens up atotally justified debate on whether they are sufficiently defined togive the general public the assurances they need. Take Fair Tradewhich has now established itself as a recognised standard but whattransparency does the consumer have on whether the price they pay haveany bearing on the fairness claims that are made and is the premiumthat they are prepared to pay for such products, on prices set by theend seller, have more to do with what the market will bear than onmaking any real difference to the third world producer?

The selling of ethical travel insuranceand financial products falls into the same category. A simple claimthat a percentage of profits are channelled into good causes is allwell and good but the discerning customer should look beyond theseheadline grabbing claims and ask serious questions. Take Travel Insurance there are literally hundreds of companies, many well known, that jumponto the bandwagon simply to try and grab a share of this growingmarket. This is tantamount to using strong arm tactics to drown out thevoices of those genuine companies and charities that are offeringethical travel insurancewith a difference. Only by looking at the whole picture can youappreciate what makes these new up and coming ethically drivencompanies a much more attractive option for those who do care aboutwhere they put their money. Whether it is directed at helping those inneed, say in the developing world or aimed at ecological issues, suchas climate change, how companies in the financial sector face up to thegrowing demand for Corporate Social Responsibility will be thebenchmark requirement on which they will be judged in the future.

In financial services broadly, and travel insurancein particular, travelandinsure.com with its ethically viable andsocially sustainable product, is among a core of companies who haverealised that this is central to how their business operates, and aretruly making a difference.