While business travel may be seen as a career perk, with professional and personal benefits, a survey suggests it comes with safety concerns – particularly for women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and younger professionals.
A survey of 2,000 international business travellers, by Opinium on behalf of the travel risk management services company World Travel Protection, part of the insurer Zurich, found that most, 67pc of business travellers say it is less safe for women to travel for work than men, yet only 16pc receive any pre-travel information on women’s rights and safety considerations. A quarter (25pc) of women also say they are uncomfortable travelling to countries where women’s rights are not well protected, compared to just 14pc of men.
Safety concerns are also higher among younger business travellers. More than half (52pc) of under-34s say business travellers are a target for crime, compared to only a third (33pc) of over 55s, with 62pc of under-34s also saying their employer could do more to ensure their safety while travelling, compared to a third (36pc) of over-55s.
For LGBTQ+ travellers, there can also be safety complications. About half, 52pc believe business travel is less safe for LGBTQ+ individuals, with one in ten (15pc) saying they have witnessed or experienced sexuality-based harassment during a work trip. Despite these concerns, only 13pc of respondents say their organisation provides pre-travel information about LGBTQ+ rights and safety in destination countries, while just 21pc receive information on risks for religious and ethnic minorities.
Top ten safety measures by business travellers:
1. Regularly checking in with family or colleagues (31pc; 35pc of women).
2. Researching risks ahead of travel (27pc).
3. Concealing valuables to avoid attention (26pc)
4. Adjusting behaviour to avoid unwanted attention (26pc)
5. Taking extra precautions after dark when alone (26pc; 30pc of women).
6. Avoiding after-hours events when travelling solo (22pc; 25pc of women).
7. Carrying self-defence items like pepper spray or alarms (20pc; 23pc of women).
8. Physically reinforcing hotel room doors with obstacles, like a chair, or a doorstop alarm (17pc; 20pc of women).
9. Avoiding dining alone (16pc; 18pc of women).
10. Raising safety concerns with employer (15pc).
Kate Fitzpatrick, Regional Security Director at World Travel Protection, pictured, said: “From regularly checking in with family or colleagues to using simple devices like a rubber doorstop, small actions can make a big impact on your safety. It is important to be proactive when it comes to your personal safety when travelling.
“When organisations are developing travel risk management policies, it’s essential they recognise how factors like gender, age and identity can shape a traveller’s experience and risk exposure. A one-size-fits-all approach is no longer sufficient. Every traveller should receive a comprehensive pre-trip briefing that includes location specific advice, especially in regions where LGBTQ+ protections and women’s right are not well protected, alongside ongoing support while they’re on the road.”
Visit www.worldtravelprotection.com.
