Business travel is one of the industry sectors that suffered most during the pandemic. A study of 1,400 repeat business travellers, by market research firm Opinium for Amadeus, shows that 93% have reduced business travel by an average of 60% since the start of the pandemic (78 % for those over 55). However there are reasons for cautious optimism as 84% of business travellers confirm they would travel now if the right security measures were in place, a percentage that reaches 87% for frequent flyers.
The need for human contact
The desire to travel for work is driven by human factors such as a lack of "seeing clients and colleagues face to face," and "sharing ideas at in-person meetings," to social aspects such as "sharing a meal."
Contactless payments are a priority
But when it comes to rebuilding trust five travel safety measures emerged from nine proposals in the survey. Travelers prioritize information on health and travel restrictions and contactless payments over vaccination tests and certificates, suggesting they seek the tools to be able to more safely manage their travel and related risks. Business travelers are also sensitive to the economic situation, and 96% confirmed they would be willing to more strictly adhere to their company's travel policy if it meant they could go on a business trip.
