Guangzhou-based Nanfang Daily reports the crash of a plane in northern China has lead to a mini boom in travel insurance.

Statistics from the civil aviation department show that only 50 percent of airline passengers bought insurance before, and the figure hikes to 80 percent this week, China Radio International reported Thursday.

Among the 53 victims on the plane in Baotou, only half had taken out insurance.

Experts believe the air crash may help raise public awareness of safety and pay more attention to accident insurance.

The most common reason for not buying travel insurance is the belief that there is a low risk of air crashes.