Travelling ‘is becoming more dangerous’
Two in three business leaders believe travelling is becoming more dangerous, according to new research.
A survey carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of International SOS shows 63% of business leaders believe travelling has become more dangerous in the last year.
Risk ratings are the reason why 42% of organisations modified travel itineraries in 2017 and travel plans were changed predominantly due to concerns over security threats.
The survey found that travel plans were changed, predominantly, due to concerns over security threats (58%), followed by natural disasters (43%).
This was consistent across the globe, apart from the Americas where natural disasters was first and security threats second. At a global level these are followed by travel risk ratings (42%) and civil unrest (34%).
Safety concerns increased most in the US with over three in four (78%) business leaders saying travel has become riskier over the last year, in comparison with under one in six (59%) in Europe.
In Africa and the Middle East, over half of respondents believe travel has become safer in the last year (51%).
Over one in two business leaders (53%) said educating employees was the top challenge they faced when protecting their employees from travel risks.
James Wood, security director at International SOS and Control Risks, said: "While the likelihood of being directly involved in a security incident remains relatively low, travellers must not be complacent.
"Britons holidaying abroad don’t need to change their plans, but a small adjustment to their behaviour could make a big difference. They should be aware of travel security threats, even when travelling to popular holiday and business destinations such as London and Madrid. Visitors should keep up to date with any change in incident levels."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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