Top travel concerns for business travellers in 2023

UK business travellers reveal their top 10 travel concerns in 2023 with travel disruption and delays (76%) topping the list, followed by catching Covid and having to isolate (69%).

According to the new Opinium survey, commissioned by World Travel Protection, a leading global travel risk management organisation, the 500 business travellers surveyed in February 2023 reveal their top travel concerns.:

Top Travel Concerns

Travel disruption and delays (76%)

Catching Covid and having to isolate (69%).

Losing their phone or laptop or being hacked (68%) and using an unsecured Wi-Fi network (68%).

Geopolitical threats, such as war, terrorist acts or tension between countries (67%).

Being a target of crime (67%).

Being harassed or disrespected because of gender or sexuality (62%).

Losing my passport – 61% – and being caught in a political protect (61%).

Being caught in a natural disaster (58%).

Experiencing high anxiety (58%).

Experiencing racism (57%)

Interestingly, under 34s are more concerned about the risks of business travel than older age groups, with 79% being concerned about catching COVID and having to isolate; 77% concerned about geo-political threats such as war, terrorist acts of tension between countries; and 72% concerned about being cause in a natural disaster.

Kate Fitzpatrick, Regional Security Director, EMEA, at World Travel Protection, said: “The spectre of Covid is still unfortunately hanging over business travel. As we get back to normal, we’re still having to navigate considerable travel disruption and uncertainty, however a high proportion of business travellers are actually more fearful of potential disruption to their travel than catching Covid and having to isolate.”

She continues: “It’s surprising to see that under 34s seem more concerned than older age groups about the risks of business travel. I wonder if this is another effect of Covid? For older business travellers used to travel it’s back to business as normal. However, younger people are likely to have travelled less with work in the past, and are now perhaps in more senior roles which require business travel. We often remind clients that some of their younger staff may be quite established in the organisation, having been with the company for a few years now, but may have never travelled with them – or even their previous employer – before.”

Kate concludes: “To mitigate risk and alleviate concerns, organisations should ensure that travelling employees are provided with the most up-to-date information on destinations and travel routes, and consider using a travel assistance company with a live travel app which provides assistance updates in real time.”