Top UK firms rule out travel ban
Few British companies have plans to impose a freeze on business trips despite the economic downturn and increasing cost of flights, though most say they are limiting non-essential travel.
Of the 175 companies surveyed by the Institute of Travel Management, 80% said they would avoid non-essential trips by making greater use of alternatives such as video conferencing.
Some 20% of firms said they hadn’t ruled out a travel ban, but they believed this would be a short term measure only, lasting no more than three months.
ITM’s survey suggests that, as yet, spiraling energy costs have only moderately affected travel costs (42% of respondees), and over a third reported that increased electricity and gas prices have had no real impact. The price increases have caused only a tiny minority to reduce travel as a result, said a ITM spokesman.
But Colin Goldney of Argate Consulting, ITM’s research partner, warned that companies forced to limit business trips now might be reluctant to increase travel when the economy picks up. “Behavioural change due to economic and environmental factors suggest we may be about to witness a paradigm shift in the business travel sector,†he said.
“If companies look to technology over mandating travel bans, this presents different options for the future. When the economy picks up, changes in behaviour due to increased exposure to video conferencing could result in executives travelling far less than before.
“The answer to the question of whether this is really likely to happen is the same as the answer to whether we are moving into recession.”
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive