CTC 12 May 2021 – Business travellers around the world believe the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions have negatively impacted their effectiveness to complete their jobs as well as the ability of their employers to develop business, serve clients and maintain business relationships, according to a survey from global property and casualty insurance company Chubb.
The ‘Time to fly: the impact of COVID-19 on the present and future of business travel’ survey found that job effectiveness has suffered from the pandemic and travel restrictions suggesting a rapid return of business travel my be on the cards to support economic development. At the same time, the survey indicates that business travellers have personally missed travelling for work and leisure, and are eager to get back on the road.
The findings of the research, based on a Feb/Mar-2021 polling by Dynata of 2,100 business travellers, aged 20 and above across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America who are currently employed and regularly stay overnight on business trips in a typical year, highlight the importance of face-to-face business and provides evidence that technology substitution may be negligible.
Based on the responses, four in five (80%) business travellers globally believe they are missing something important when they cannot see body language or other visual clues that you can only get in an in-person meeting. In fact, nearly three out of four business travellers (74%) say they are less effective in their job due to the pandemic and severely limited travel opportunities. Areas that have been negatively impacted include client service and the ability to maintain relationships with clients and business partners.
With the proper precautions, respondents said they were twice as likely to feel more comfortable travelling for business than for leisure. One reason cited, according to the report, being that “business is important to their livelihood”.
READ MORE
Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association
The Voice of the Industry
