Harold Lawrence, the founder of travel insurer Go Walkabout, captures the sentiment many travellers feel about insurance: “Nobody wants it, but everybody needs it.”
When planning a trip, most travellers focus on the exciting experiences ahead, not the potential for things to go wrong. Who wants to spend money on something they hope to never use? Travel insurance, often seen as an essential but unpleasant purchase, fits this description perfectly.
However, Harold, 83, who recently retired after an impressive 62-year career in the insurance industry, recognized a significant gap in the market and made it his mission to ensure that backpackers and travellers could access the coverage they needed. He took a bold leap, quitting a stable job and borrowing money against his house to start Go Walkabout, a company that would cater to the unique needs of adventurous travellers.
“It was a bit of a gamble—giving up pension rights and everything else. I was married with three children. I remember family members thinking I needed my head tested,” Harold reflects on the early days of his career.
After years of running a brokerage in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, Harold saw that many travel insurance policies offered poor coverage, especially for younger travellers who were embarking on long and risky trips. “At the time, travel insurance was largely sold through travel agents, but there was little guidance given to customers. The fine print often included many exclusions that travellers didn’t fully understand,” Harold explains.
Concerned by this, Harold aimed to create a policy that made coverage clear and accessible. “We make sure travellers understand what their policy includes,” he says. “When they receive their policy, we also send a letter in simple terms, outlining what they’re covered for and what they need to avoid.”
To attract customers, Harold set up a booth at backpacker travel shows in London, where he identified another gap: one-way travel coverage. At the time, many insurance policies only applied to round-trip journeys, leaving backpackers, especially Australians and New Zealanders returning home from the UK, uninsured for long, often dangerous trips. Harold regarded this gap in coverage as a “disgrace.”
He created policies to cover these one-way travellers and protect them from the potentially devastating costs of medical emergencies, a problem that often led to bankruptcy for those without adequate insurance. For Harold, it was not just about business—it was about a moral responsibility. “People need to be covered,” he asserts.
Go Walkabout has since become known for offering policies tailored to the needs of travellers who engage in unconventional activities, such as trekking in the Himalayas or whitewater rafting in southern Africa. The company specializes in long-duration coverage for backpackers and can offer policies for travellers up to 74 years old, ensuring that even those planning extended journeys are covered.
After 62 years in the industry, Harold decided it was time to retire. “I thought it might be a good idea to pass on the baton,” he says, noting that Go Walkabout has managed to thrive despite the challenges the travel industry has faced over the years.
The company has weathered several significant crises, including the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the 2008 financial crash, and the Covid-19 pandemic. The latter posed an existential threat to travel insurers, as lockdowns and travel bans caused travel rates to plummet. “The nearest we came to crashing out of sight was during the Covid period,” Harold recalls. “I had enough reserves to keep going for 12 months, but it was a close-run thing.”
Adding to the challenges was Brexit, which disrupted the company’s agreements with German underwriters. With many British insurers unwilling to take on travel business due to the financial strain of Covid-19, Harold’s strong reputation helped secure a deal to ensure Go Walkabout’s survival.
Now, Harold’s son-in-law, Mark Brunger, has taken over as managing director, bringing a fresh approach to the company’s future. “More people are finding us online now, but no thanks to me,” Harold says, smiling. “People do business with people. I believe in the old-fashioned way of selling insurance: making it easy for customers to speak to you.”
Although the travel insurance market has become more competitive in recent years, Go Walkabout remains a trusted choice for many, especially those planning unconventional adventures. For Harold’s loyal customers, Bexhill-on-Sea continues to be the gateway to their next journey.
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