Foreign tourists have no insurance

DENPASAR, Bali: An average of 60 foreign tourists die in Bali each year, with nearly 90 percent of them not covered by insurance, Antara reported Wednesday.

Consequently, according to Ari Murti, the head of the state- owned insurance company PT Jasa Raharja Putera's local office, the local authorities face problems in returning the bodies to their countries of origin.

Unless solved soon, the problem may tarnish Bali's image as a tourist destination, he said. To solve the problem, the insurance company will soon launch a life insurance policy for tourists.

Murti said the insurance plan takes effect as soon as an insured person takes a package tour and becomes the member of a tour program, local or overseas. The insurance coverage will terminate after 10 days, or as soon as the tour has been completed.

Each tourist will have to pay a premium of US$2 (Rp 4800), which insures the tourist for $10,000 in case of death or permanent disability and for a maximum of $1,000 for medical treatment.