Travelling for work riskier than it used to be according to new business travellers’ survey
- Work travel is becoming more unpredictable and volatile
- Top concerns in 2024 include travel disruption and geopolitical threats
- Women concerned about being harassed or disrespected because of their gender
Travelling for business comes with more risks than it used to say over half (54%) of business travellers in a new Opinium* survey, conducted on behalf of World Travel Protection, a global leader in travel risk management. The risks cited include being caught up in a natural disaster, climate extremes or a terrorist attack.
This feeling is stronger amongst younger generations with 62% of under 54s agreeing with this, compared to only 23% of over 55s.
Four in 10 (44%) business travellers say work travel is becoming increasingly unpredictable and volatile, and a similar amount (40%) are worried about being personally exposed to more risk in 2024.
Being harassed or disrespected because of their gender or sexuality is particularly worrying for women (52%) compared to men (33%), as well as the fear of being sexually assaulted (52% of women compared to 34% of men).
More than half (52%) of business travellers also worry they could be a target or the victim of crime, with the same number concerned about a cybersecurity attack.
Top Travel Concerns in 2024 According to the Survey
- Travel disruption and delays (61%)
- Geopolitical threats, such as war, terrorist acts or tension between countries (54%)
- Contracting a virus/infectious disease that requires quarantining (53%)
- Losing my phone/laptop/passport (53%)
- Being a target/the victim of crime (52%)
- Being hacked/the victim of a cybersecurity attack (52%)
- Experiencing a medical emergency (48%)
- My mental health (46%)
- Being sexually assaulted (43%) (34% men & 52% women)
- Being caught in a political protest or crowd (43%)
Kate Fitzpatrick, Regional Security Director, EMEA, at World Travel Protection, said: “Travellers are always going to be targets for opportunistic crime, but they can also be targets for premeditated attacks depending on their line of work. Risk today means not only leaving your expensive watch at home, it may also mean lowering your social media presence or removing specific apps, for example dating apps, from your phone which may not be allowed in certain territories. It also means limiting company IP on devices to stop data potentially being accessed in unsecure public places.
“As a travel risk organisation, we see many examples of businesses considering risk too late. For example, briefing clients who are travelling to dangerous, out-of-the-way territories is an essential part of my job, but there is also risk in more traditionally ‘safe’ destinations. Travelling by hire car from Brussels to Paris could seem quite low risk compared to other journeys, but what if it crashes late at night in a rural area? A risk assessment should cover all eventualities from beginning to end. It’s about preparation and planning to mitigate risk at the outset, considering the traveller, their experience and what they’re doing. Planning and preparation give knowledge, and knowledge is power when it comes to understanding risk.”
*Opinium online survey conducted with 500 people, who travel for business at least once a year in the UK, from 1 – 8 February 2024.
About World Travel Protection
For 30 years, World Travel Protection (WTP) has taken care of corporate and leisure travellers across the globe by providing access to 24-hour emergency assistance.
In addition to support services for medical, travel, and security emergencies, WTP – part of the Zurich Insurance Group – educates and trains businesses to mitigate exposure to inherent risks associated with travelling abroad. Emergency assistance encompasses medical case management, evacuation & repatriation together with providing access to virtual care services (telehealth) and security intelligence.
A key foundational component of a leading assistance provider is its global network. WTP’s GlobalCare Network ensures our customers have access to over 20,000 providers worldwide. Millions of travellers place their trust in WTP each year for assistance across 200 countries. For more information, visit www.worldtravelprotection.com.
World Travel Protection is a trading name of Cover-More Insurance Services Limited
Awards Won:
- Winner: APAC EMMA Awards 2022, International Health, Wellbeing or Security Management Provider of the Year – Forum for Expatriate Management (FEM)
- Winner: 2022 ITIJ Awards – International Assistance Company of the Year
- Highly Commended: EMEA EMMA Award 2022, International Health, Wellbeing or Security Management Provider of the Year – Forum for Expatriate Management (FEM)
