TRAVEL may be picking up all over the world, but that doesn’t mean concerns from the last two years have completely disappeared. New research via the SAP Concur business traveller survey finds that APAC corporate travellers are still concerned about the continuing health and safety threats from COVID-19. In fact, almost two-thirds of Asia Pacific (APAC) respondents view concerns from COVID-19 as a top threat to business travel.
The survey was conducted by Wakefield Research between April 28th and May 23rd, 2022 and polled 1,050 business travellers in Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand to represent the Asia-Pacific region.
As we’ve mentioned in previous articles such as ‘Letter from Phoenix: Gummies, guacamole and lessons from taxi drivers’, it’s not uncommon to find countries in Asia handle mask mandates and movement restrictions more conservatively than our Western counterparts. 63% of APAC corporate travellers regard health and safety as a top concern, compared to 52% globally. The next most common concern for APAC is uncertainty around changing travel policies, which is a ballpark away at only 25%.
More interestingly, nearly two in five APAC business travellers (38%) indicated that the trip itself — rather than the pre- or post-trip stages — is the most stressful stage of travel, which is an increase of 4% from 34% in 2021. This includes ensuring their personal safety and health.
To ensure a safe trip, regional business travellers continue to expect flexible arrangements to protect their health and safety, which includes selecting their preferred mode of travel (49%, as compared to 43% in 2021) and accomodations (49%, same as 2021).
43% of respondents expect their company to allow them to decide how long their trip will be (compared to 38% globally). Similarly, 41% said it’s essential to have the ability to book travel directly through supplier websites to protect their health and safety (compared to 37% globally), and 39% expect to be able to change travel plans without repercussions.
Maybe it’s worth noting that these stats continue to rise despite endemicity, compared to when the pandemic was rife in 2021.
This sentiment was echoed by Matthew Goss (Senior Vice President & General Manager, Asia Pacific Japan and Greater China, SAP Concur) who said, “It’s interesting that APAC employees seem to be more concerned about health and safety than other markets in the world. Organisations here that haven’t put in place travel policies and technologies to safeguard employee health and safety, or ensure travel flexibility, should act soon.”
While 98% of APAC business travellers are willing to get out and travel again, the percentage who are “very willing” to travel has dropped from 6#% last year to 48% in 2022.
Interest in travel still remains optimistically high, though.
Unsurprisingly, corporate travellers also want options to make travel and scheduling more relaxing. Nearly half (48%) say they’d want the ability to choose higher category transportation and accommodation options to take a position with more travel (compared to 40% globally).
Additionally, the survey also covered a global concern – sustainability.
An overwhelming 95% of APAC business travellers are looking to take their own steps to ensure greener travel over the next 12 months. 43% of travellers plan to combine nearby trips into one longer trip while prioritising alternatives to air travel, such as car or rail (37%), and using public transportation (36%).
As much as 27% of the APAC business travellers surveyed are willing to risk repercussions with their organisation by refusing non-sustainable travel.
This highlights the crucial role companies play in spearheading eco-freidnly practices, as APAC business travellers are looking to their employers to take strides towards sustainable travel. Nearly all of the respondents (96%) felt that it is important for sustainability information to be provided to them in their business travel options.
The way information is provided is equally important, as 54% of travellers said that having visual indicators of the environmental impact is extremely important to them.
