If you’re a travel agent or tour operator, your business risks go far beyond lost luggage or missed flights. From handling customer bookings to managing guided tours, the stakes are high — and so is your legal exposure. To help you navigate through this, you need specialist travel agency insurance or tour operator insurance that’s tailored to your industry, covering you for public liability and professional indemnity risks.

At Gow-Gates, we help you:

• Navigate insurance that’s relevant to the challenges within travel industry
• Access insurers, and negotiate custom policies
• Avoid gaps or overlaps in cover
• Stay compliant with legal and industry standards

If something goes wrong, we can also assist with claims, ensuring you’re supported when it matters most.

In a high-risk, fast-moving industry like travel, having the right insurance policies is crucial – and working with an expert broker can mean the difference between minor disruption and major loss.

And that’s why for travel professionals, specialist insurance brokers who understand the industry aren’t just worth it — they’re essential to help you with your risk transfer strategy.

Which Insurance Company Is Best for Travel Agency and Tour Operator Insurance?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer — because there’s no one-size-fits-all travel business. Whether you're a boutique agency or a national tour company, your ideal insurer will depend on what you offer and where you operate.

At Gow-Gates Insurance Brokers, we are aware of the unique challenges within the travel sector, and that’s why we’ve created our bespoke and cost-effective Travel Agents and Tour Operators Professional Indemnity and Broadform Liability. We will match your risk profile with an appropriate insurer for tour operators and travel agencies. For example:

• Participate or organise high-risk activities? You’ll need sufficient coverage.
• A customer or third-party seeking compensation for injury or damage? Look for insurers covering both the professional liability and public liability.
• Legal expenses? You’ll need coverage for claim investigation costs and lawyer fees.

We don’t just look at price — we focus on value. We work with reputable insurers to provide you with access to find the right fit in terms of scope, service, and reliability.

How Does an Insurance Broker Work?

Think of an insurance broker as your personal guide to the complex world of insurance.

Here’s how the process works at Gow-Gates:

1. Consultation – We gather information about your business, including your risk profile.
2. Policy Search – We match you with a suitable insurance policy; providing you with cover from a trusted insurer, and also offer options for additional coverage.
3. Guidance and Advices – We explain what’s covered, highlight potential exclusions, and work with you to come to a solution.
4. Placement – We negotiate and handle the paperwork with the insurer.
5. Claims Support – If a claim arises, we help you manage it — from the first notice of loss to settlement.

This personalised service gives travel agents and tour operators peace of mind, knowing that they’re covered appropriately — not just cheaply.

How to Get Public Liability Insurance (for Travel Professionals)

If you’re a travel agent, tour operator, or freelance guide, you should strongly consider Public Liability Insurance (PL) to protect your business from third-party claims in respect of injury or property damage.

For example, if a traveler is injured during one of your organised activities or trips, or on your office premises, they may seek compensation. Without PL insurance, you could face legal and financial hardship. However, depending on the circumstances, this may instead trigger a response under a professional indemnity policy if it is a claim resulting from a breach of professional duty.

At Gow-Gates, we offer tailored liability cover as part of our new Travel Agents and Tour Operators Professional Indemnity and Broadform Liability. This policy includes both Public Liability Insurance (PL) and Professional Indemnity Insurance, covering both the risks associated with negligence and any third-party injury or property damage.

We can provide a desktop review of your business and your activities & services to structure the right cover. Together, we can protect your business against a wide range of risks, ensuring you're fully covered.

Need help choosing the right insurance to protecting your travel business?

Talk to a Gow-Gates travel agency and tour operators' insurance expert today.

Disclaimer:

This information is general in advice only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. The information provided in this blog post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or insurance advice.

The response of an insurance policy to a claim can vary depending on each particular circumstance and the terms and conditions of the policy.