Is there double indemnity available if one gets trampled by an elephant?

Thailand is continuing to offer insurance coverage worth $10,000 to anyone harmed in riots and demonstrations as it seeks to attract tourists scared off by political turmoil, officials say.

Other carrots range from a waiver on all visa fees to discounts on airline landing fees.

“The measures are to support the tourism industry. The situation has been recovering but the businesses still need help,” said Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn earlier this week.

Thailand has been plagued by political conflict since the ouster of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a 2006 military coup. More demonstrations are scheduled by his supporters for mid-March.

In 2009, the number of tourists dropped to 14.1 million, an 8 percent decrease from the previous year while revenue shrank to 527 billion baht ($16 billion), a 3 percent drop from 2008. Tourism is the country’s number one foreign currency earner.- AP

To me, a far more likely cause for Thailand’s dropoff in tourism would be a world-wide economic downturn. People don’t have the vacation dollars, yen, francs, pesos, etc.

As to the insurance offer, thanks but no thanks. People want to enjoy themselves not end up in a hospital. The offer is almost like a message to tourists- Thailand isn’t safe.