Fifth of business travellers travelling more than before pandemic
Over 20% of business travellers say they are travelling more frequently now compared to before the pandemic.
Polling 500 UK business travellers commissioned by World Travel Protection, larger organisations (over 250 employees) seem slower getting back to pre-pandemic travel levels, with 71% of these business travellers saying they travel less frequently.
Only 11% say travel is back to how it was before the pandemic.
A quarter (25%) missed travelling for work during the pandemic.
One in four (26%) say international travel is important for their job, with over a quarter (28%) saying their organisation is encouraging travel, ‘as face-to-face meetings are important to form relationships’.
A fifth (22%) are excited to be meeting people in-person again.
However, not everyone feels this way as one in six (16%) business travellers do not want to travel for work as much as they did before Covid.
Covid’s impact is also clear, with a quarter (24%) saying they have a backlog of trips due to Covid.
Yet frustrations with countries having different Covid rules are hindering travel for a quarter of business travellers (26%), and health worries remain.
Kate Fitzpatrick, Regional Security Director, UK, World Travel Protection said: “It’s good to see travel starting up again, but it’s clear from this survey that there’s still a fair bit of apprehension and anxiety associated with travel.”
“It’s important that travelling teams are properly supported by their organisations.”
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