Ipsos Global Reputation Centre TRAVEL RISKS & REALITY
Front Cover: Travel Risk Map 2017 www.internationalsos.com/travelriskmap Editorial: Alex Lewis Matthew Painter Nick Jones Erin Mitchell Content Information: www.ipos-mori.com alex.lewis@ipsos.com www.internationalsos.com nick.jones@internationalsos.com 01. Foreword...2 02. Key findings...3 03. Rise in risks to travellers... 4 a. Perceived increase in risk... 4 b. Perception of regional travel risks...5 c. Terrorism is top concern...6 Gun violence...6 d. Likelihood and impact of risks...7 Most likely risks...7 Security & medical professionals - differing perceptions of likelihood...7 Most impactful...8 Security & medical professionals - differing perceptions on degree of impact...8 e. 2017 risk forecast...9 04. Preventive behaviours... 10 a. Influence of country risk rating...11 b. Personal risk mitigation techniques...11 Common behaviours of medical and security professionals...12 05. Business response...13 a. Increased investment in travel risk mitigation...13 b. Most popular travel risk mitigation techniques...13 c. The challenges of protecting people...14 06. Regional analysis...15 Europe...15 North America...16 Australia and New Zealand...17 East Asia and Pacific...17 The Middle East...19 Sub Saharan Africa... 20 South Asia...21
01. Foreword People who travel and work internationally face an evolving world of health and travel security risks. Since 2015, terrorist attacks, civil unrest, and the Zika virus have dominated media headlines. How have these new realities affected the business traveller? How have they modified their behaviour to reflect these new realities? And, are organisations adapting and providing services to help their people reduce their exposure to risk? In October 2016, Ipsos MORI conducted a global survey targeted to those who organise, influence, or are responsible for, their organisation s travel and risk mitigation policies. The survey sought to understand whether perceptions of travel risk had changed in the previous year: What health and travel security risks are of most concern to organisations and travellers? Are there significant differences in travel risk mitigation methods and concerns across regions? How are organisations and travellers modifying their behaviour or policies to respond to these new realities? These survey findings represent responses from 1,119 professionals who are responsible for business travel, across 75 countries. For the purpose of this report, the regions are classified as follows: East Asia and Pacific South Asia (including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) Australia and New Zealand Middle East North Africa Sub-Saharan Africa Europe Russia and Central Asia North America Central and South America Milorad Ajder Managing Director Ipsos Global Reputation Centre 1
TRAVEL RISKS AND REALITY 02. Key findings Rise in Risks to Travellers A significant majority of respondents believe that travel risks have increased in the last year. Respondents based in Europe and North America are most likely to say this. Europe is also the region most associated with an increased risk for business travel particularly among respondents based in Europe. Terrorism is Top Concern Fears of terrorism dominate travel concerns at a global level, with respondents saying that this is the issue that has most increased as a risk in the last twelve months. Terrorism is the issue that respondents most expect to arise in the next twelve months. Changing Travel Plans The vast majority of organisations modified itineraries due to health or travel security concerns in the past year. Over half of the organisations modified travel itineraries in the past year due to terrorism concerns. Preventive Behaviours 1 in 3 organisations modified travel itineraries in the past year due to country risk ratings. The most common tactics people used to reduce their exposure to health and security risks when travelling abroad vary by region with those in Central and South America most likely to follow taxi routes on their phones, those in North America most likely to share their itineraries with friends and family, and those in Europe most likely to research threats at their destination. Educating employees about travel risks, communicating during a crisis, and tracking employee travel are seen as the biggest challenges to protecting people. 1 in 3 organisations modified travel itineraries in the past year due to country risk ratings. Risk Forecast More than half of organisations believe health and travel security risks faced by business travellers will increase over the next 12 months. Only 4% of respondents think travel risks will decrease. 2
03. Rise in risks to travellers 72% say travel risks have increased over the past year Those in Europe and North America most likely to say this 57% a. Perceived increase in risk Around three quarters of respondents believe that travel risks have increased over the past year (72% of respondents say this). Terrorism, Zika and civil unrest are seen as the three risks that have increased most. Figure 1 Region of origin Europe North America Risk has increased over the past twelve months 80% 79% Respondents in Europe and North America are most likely to believe that risk is increasing (with 80% and 79% of respondents in these respective regions saying this). Those based in Australia and New Zealand and Sub Saharan Africa are relatively relaxed, with 64% of the former and 61% of the latter saying risks have increased, and 31% of both groups saying risk levels have stayed the same since last year. Almost three quarters (69%) of those in the Middle East say that risk has increased.despite increased perceptions of risk, business travel continues to rise. South Asia Global East Asia and Pacific Middle East North Africa* Australia and New Zealand Sub Saharan Africa Central and South America* Russia and Central Asia* 25% 42% 72% 72% 71% 69% 67% 64% 61% *Sample size is under 25 Substantially more respondents say that the number of travellers at their organisation had increased over the past year (44%), compared to the numbers who say they had decreased (15%). South Asia based respondents (66% increased) and those in Australia and New Zealand (52%) are the most likely to report an increase. 44% say number of travellers at their business have increased 3
TRAVEL RISKS AND REALITY 03. Rise in risks to travellers b. Perception of regional travel risks Throughout the world, Europe is the region where risks are most commonly felt to have increased over the past year, with 50% of respondents saying that risk has increased there. That compares with 44% of respondents who say the same thing about the Middle East. Indeed, 61% of respondents in Europe say that risk has increased in Europe, placing Europeans in a club with South Asians (64%), Middle Easterners (84%) and Sub-Saharan Africans (68%) as being most likely to say risks have increased in their own region. By contrast, almost no respondents perceive risks as having increased in Australia and New Zealand over the past year (2%), with Russia and Central Asia (13%) and North America (16%) also seen as representing an increased risk by comparatively few. Respondents in Australia and New Zealand, like those in East Asia and the Americas, are more likely to associate regions other than their own with increased risk. South and Central America-based participants see North America as the region with the most increased risk (42%) while 50% of respondents in North America see South and Central America as increasingly dangerous. Europe and East Asia and the Pacific are the regions to which respondents most frequently report business travellers at their organisation have travelled in the past year (both on 76%). Rather fewer report travel to North America (63%). North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (both 35%) and Russia and central Asia (32%) are the regions to which fewest respondents report travel. Figure 2 VELLERS 16% North America 28% Central and South America 50% Europe 44% Middle East 13% Russia and Central Asia 28% East Asia and Pacific 24% 23% North Africa Sub Saharan Africa 38% South Asia 2% Australia and New Zealand...say risks have increased for travellers to this region 4
03. Rise in risks to travellers c. Terrorism is top concern Perhaps unsurprisingly given the perceptions of increased risk in Europe and the Middle East, terrorism is the issue that respondents are most likely to say has increased over the past year (71%). Almost half of respondents (49%) see Zika as an increased risk. Only 4% of respondents think travel risks will decrease in 2017. Figure 3 5
TRAVEL RISKS AND REALITY 03. Rise in risks to travellers Terrorism is a particular concern among those in the Middle East (85% say it has increased as a risk) Europe (83%), and North America (77%). Gastrointestinal problems (12%) and flu (11%) are seen as on the rise by far fewer people, presumably as they are seen as problems that are intrinsic to everyday life. Figure 4 Region of origin Middle East Europe North America South Asia Russia and Central Asia* Terrorism risk has increased 85% 83% 77% 76% 75% East Asia and Pacific 71% Global 71% North Africa* 67% Australia and New Zealand 62% Central and South America* 53% Sub Saharan Africa 53% *Sample size is under 25 Gun violence In certain regions, gun violence is seen as being particularly on the rise. Such regions include Europe (where 32% said it was on the rise), North America (33%) South Asia (34%) and Central and South America (37%). 6
03. Rise in risks to travellers d. Likelihood and impact of risks Most likely risks A preoccupation with terrorism is also apparent when respondents are asked to rank risks by their likelihood to arise in the next twelve months. Terrorism is top ranked by far, with civil unrest and extreme weather events second and third. Despite the overall perception of increased risk of Zika over the last year, this is middle ranked in terms of its likeliness to arise. Security & medical professionals - differing perceptions of likelihood There are some differences between those working in different job roles in terms of what issues they see as most likely to arise in the next twelve months. Security professionals are clearly more concerned than average about terrorism, gun violence, civil unrest and petty crime. Figure 5 Likelihood to arise Rank Issue 1 Terrorism 2 Civil unrest 3 Extreme weather events 4 Petty crime 5 Natural disasters 6 Infectious diseases 7 Road accidents 8 Stomach/gastrointestinal problems 9 Zika virus 10 Flu 11 Inadequate healthcare 12 Gun violence 13 Non-infectious diseases NB. Respondents were asked to rank issues in order. Those who say their role deals with medical support are more likely to see infectious diseases such as dengue fever and malaria as risks (top ranked), Figure 6 Will have biggest overall impact Rank Issue 1 Terrorism 2 Civil unrest 3 Extreme weather events 4 Natural disasters 5 Infectious diseases 6 Petty crime 7 Road accidents 8 Zika virus 9 Gun violence 10 Stomach/gastrointestinal problems 11 Flu 12 Inadequate healthcare 13 Non-infectious diseases NB. Respondents were asked to rank issues in order. followed by the flu (ranked fifth) and inadequate healthcare (ranked fourth). Will have biggest overall impact Risks Forecast to Rise in 2017 Stomach gastrointestinal problems Zika virus Gun violence Inadequate healthcare Natural disasters Infectious diseases Extreme weather events Civil unrest Terrorism Likelihood to arise Non-infectious diseases Flu Petty crime Road accidents 7
TRAVEL RISKS AND REALITY 03. Rise in risks to travellers Most impactful (Fig.5) In terms of what would be of most impact to business travel should it arise, terrorism is seen as the most potentially disruptive. Should the threat of Zika increase, those who are responsible for business travellers place it in the middle of the rankings in terms of its potential impact, with civil unrest and extreme weather events ranked behind terrorism. Figure 7 Region of origin North Africa* Middle East Sub Saharan Africa North America Global Risks will increase in the next year 67% 63% 62% 61% 57% Security & medical professionals - differing perceptions on degree of impact When asked to assess how these issues would affect travel if they occurred in 2017, medical professionals again take incidents such as infectious diseases (top ranked) and inadequate healthcare (ranked fourth) more seriously than the wider sample. The Zika virus is also seen by medical respondents as more potentially disruptive (ranked second). Again, security professionals are more likely to see terrorism and civil unrest as likely to impact travellers should these arise, as are respondents dealing in risk management. East Asia and Pacific South Asia Australia and New Zealand Europe Central and South America* Russia and Central Asia* Europe based respondents are most likely to say risk has increased over the past twelve months. However, they are less likely than average to say they expect risk to increase over the coming year. Those in North Africa (67%) and the Middle East (63%) are most likely to say that they expect risks to increase. 13% 47% 57% 56% 54% 54% 52% expect travel risks to increase in 2017 *Sample size is under 25 e. 2017 risk forecast Looking forward, over half of respondents (57%) expect travel risks to increase over the next twelve months, with only 4% anticipating any decline (around a third, 36%, expect the risk level to remain at a similar level). 8
04. Preventive behaviours 80% of respondents say that their organisation has had to modify travel itineraries in the past year due health or travel security concerns. Among respondents in the Middle East, this rises to 88%. Figure 8 Terrorism is in fact the issue that has most frequently caused modifications to itineraries over the last year (mentioned by 51%), with civil unrest in second place on 36%. There are regional differences in the reasons that travel itineraries are modified. Almost three quarters (70%) of Europe-based respondents modified their travel due to terrorism related concerns. A quarter (26%) of Europe-based respondents modified itineraries due to transport concerns, while Sub-Saharan Africans are more likely to have their travel plans affected by infectious diseases (34%) or inadequate healthcare (12%). 80% say their business has modified itineraries due to health or travel security concerns 51% due to terrorism 36% due to civil unrest 32% due to country risk ratings a. Influence of country risk rating Around one in three respondents (32%) have modified their travel plans in response to country risk ratings, with respondents travelling to North Africa (47%), Sub-Saharan Africa (46%) and the Middle East (42%) most likely to have modified their plans based on such advice. 9
TRAVEL RISKS AND REALITY 04. Preventive behaviours b. Personal risk mitigation techniques Figure 9 When it comes to what respondents have done personally to mitigate risks, 59% of respondents have shared their itineraries with friends and family, while over half have researched the threats at their destination (54%). Respondents are unwilling to shutter themselves away, with only 9% having eaten meals in their rooms as a precautionary measure. The same proportion have taken time to research the availability of medical prescriptions at their destination, though a much larger number (42%) have researched vaccination requirements. Common behaviours of medical and security professionals Nearly all of the above behaviours are more likely to have been undertaken by security professionals than by others (with the exception of protecting against mosquito bites). Security professionals are especially more likely to have assessed the safety features of their hotel rooms (48%) and researched the threats at their destination (72% do so). Unsurprisingly, medical professionals are rather more likely to have protected against mosquito bites (53% do so) and researched vaccination requirements (70% do so), though only a minority even among this group (20%) have taken steps to confirm whether prescription medication will be available at their destination. Those working in finance and travel are among those who seem to take the fewest precautions whilst travelling, with only 31% of the former and 46% of the latter having shared their itineraries with friends and family, while only 31% of finance workers and 39% of travel employees have researched local attitudes. Regional behaviour changes: Central & South America North America Europe Follow route on mobile phone when in a taxi (61%) Sharing itinerary with family and friends (65%) Researching threats at destination (55%) Research threats at destination (61%) Researching threats at destination (55%) Sharing itinerary with family and friends (52%) Share itinerary with family/ friends (50%) Researching vaccination requirements (45%) Researching vaccination requirements (41%) 10
05. Business Response It is clear that organisations face a complex task in responding to the evolving world of risk. Many organisations are providing support and services to help their people reduce risk exposure. Investing in travel risk mitigation in the past and planning more for the future. However, there are still significant challenges faced by the majority. a. Increased investment in travel risk mitigation Almost half (48%) of respondents say their organisation s investment in travel risk mitigation has increased over the past year, with those in South Asia (57%), Australia and New Zealand (55%) and North America (54%) most likely to say that their organisation s investment has increased. In line with worries over risks in the next twelve months, almost half (47%) of respondents expect their organisation s investment in travel risk mitigation to increase in the coming year. Australians and New Zealanders (51%), North Americans and South Asians (both 50%) are most likely to expect their organisations investment in travel risk mitigation to increase, while those in the Middle East (39%) are least likely to expect their organisations to make this investment. in response to an increased health and security threats (50%). Updated travel risk policies are also relatively common (with 45% reporting the use of these). However, use of technology seems to be a less commonly adopted approach, with enforced use of mobile check in (reported by 15%) and Figure 10 48% 47% 2016 2017 report increased investment in travel risk mitigation over the past year expect investment to increase in the coming year investment in crisis communication systems (reported by 20%) the least common stratagems. However, 12% of respondents say their organisation hadn t introduced any of these approaches, while a further 5% say they are unable to answer the question. Top 5 responses from businesses (% have done this ): b. Most popular travel risk mitigation techniques Reinforced travel security measures are the step that respondents are most likely to say their organisation has done 50% Reinforced travel security measures 45% Updated travel risk policy 39% Introduced pre-trip advisory emails 32% Implemented travel safety training 25% Implemented programmes to locate travellers 11
TRAVEL RISKS AND REALITY 05. Business Response c. The challenges of protecting people Figure 11 Educating employees about travel risks (49%), communicating during a crisis (47%) and tracking employee travel (42%) are seen as the biggest challenges to protecting travellers. By contrast, systemic issues are seen as less of a challenge with business continuity planning, confirming employees have taken travel risk training, (both 23%), understanding legal obligations to travellers (22%) and management buy in to travel risk policy (18%) are the areas that represent the least challenge. There seems to be a significant disconnect between those who are responsible for business travellers and those who have their travel booked for them. While educating employees about travel risks is seen as the biggest challenge to keeping employees safe, over half of those who are responsible for business travellers take the time to research threats at their destination, while a small minority research vaccination requirements or local attitudes. Seen as the biggest challenges to protecting travellers faced by organisations: 49% Educating employees about travel risks 47% communicating with employees during a crisis 42% tracking employee travel 12
06. Regional Analysis Europe Europe based respondents are most likely to travel within Europe (88% report business travellers from their organisation have travelled within Europe in the past year). Almost three quarters (73%) report travel to the Middle East, 69% to East Asia and the Pacific and 67% to North America. This compares to 89% of North Americans who report travel to Europe. Those in Europe are more likely than the rest of the world to say that risks to their travellers have increased over the past twelve months (80% vs 72%). It is likely that fears over terrorism underpin this rise in perceived risk. Those based in Europe are more likely to say that terrorism is the issue that has most increased as a risk over the past year (83% vs. 71%), with gun violence also a bigger worry (32% vs 25%). Europe is also the region where the overall health and security risks to travellers are most commonly thought to be increasing, with 50% globally saying the risks have increased since last year. Among those who are based in Europe or who have travelled to Europe these figures are even higher (at 61% in both cases). crisis is Europeans top challenge (nominated by 54% of Europe based respondents, compared to 47% on average), legal issues are where the biggest disconnect exists. Travel risk policy compliance is seen as a challenge by 43% of Europeans, compared to a global average of 31%, while understanding legal obligations is seen as a challenge by 22% of respondents globally, but 36% of Europeans. Whilst Europe based respondents are among the least likely to report increased business travel over the past year (37% as opposed to a global average of 44%), this may reflect Europeans greater existing likelihood to travel (48% say the numbers of travellers have stayed the same). Though half (52%) of Europe based participants say they expect risks to their business travellers to increase into 2017, they are actually less likely to think this than the global average (57%). Looking forward to 2017, fears over Europe and terrorism persist. Terrorism is ranked as the top issue among Europe based respondents in terms of its likelihood to occur and its impact. However, European based respondents are only slightly more likely than average to say their organisation has had to modify travel arrangements in response to health or travel security concerns in the past year. This disconnect between higher perceived risk and actual behaviour is mirrored when people are asked how they expect their organisation s investment in travel risk mitigation to change over the next 12 months. Whilst 47% of European based respondents expect it to increase, this is no higher than the global average. European respondents are also no more likely than the global average to report that investment in travel risk mitigation increased over the past year (with 49% of Europe based participants saying it has increased, against a global average of 48%). When it comes to keeping employees safe, Europe based respondents are more likely than average to find each issue to be a challenge. Whilst communicating during a 13
06. Regional Analysis North America After Europe based respondents, those in North America are most likely to say that risks to their business travellers have increased over the past year (79%). Like Europeans, a lower than average proportion of respondents report increased travel. Those in North America are most likely to say their colleagues have travelled to Europe (89%), followed by North America (86%) and East Asia and the Pacific (81%). Europeans (67%) are the most likely to report travel to North America (other than respondents in North America themselves). Terrorism is the issue that North American respondents are most likely to say has increased in risk over the past year (77%), though the Zika virus (66%, compared to a global average of 49%) and civil unrest (56% versus a global average of 46%) are also seen as growing in risk. Those in North America are more likely than the global average to say that overall health and security risks to travellers are increasing in Europe (55% vs. 50%), with the Middle East also seen to be increasingly dangerous (by 51% of respondents). Closer to home just 16% say overall risks in North America are increasing, although 50% see South America as more dangerous than a year ago, almost twice the global average (28%). These perceptions of Europe and South America are likely to be informed by perceptions of the increased risks of terrorism and the Zika virus. those in North America along with Australia and New Zealand based respondents the most likely to report investment in travel risk mitigation). When it comes to actions undertaken in response to travel health and security concerns, respondents in North America are considerably more likely than average to report the use of reinforced travel security measures (60%, versus an average of 50%), with pre-travel safety training also being more popular than the norm (39% in North America vs. 32% on average). However, participants in North America are like Europeans more likely than average to report challenges ensuring the health and security of travellers. Educating employees about travel risks (55% vs. 49%) and confirming employees have read travel risk guidance (43% vs. 37%) are the areas of greatest disparity compared to the global averages. When travelling abroad themselves, respondents in North America are most likely to undertake precautions such as sharing their itinerary with friends and family (65%) and researching threats at their destination (55%). However, almost one in five North American based respondents (19%) report that they have not travelled abroad in the last year, considerably higher than the global average of 13%. 14 These concerns over terror and Zika also emerge when North America based respondents are asked to rank differing risks by their likelihood to arise in 2017. While terrorism is top, it is by less of a distance than the global average. Meanwhile Zika and civil unrest are higher ranked than the global average, with the former issue being more of a concern in North America than South America. This pattern also holds true when respondents are asked to assess the impact of the same risks and incidents on business travel in 2017. With this in mind, 61% of North America based respondents expect security risks faced by their travellers to increase in the next year. Accordingly, 50% expect their organisation s investment in travel risk mitigation to increase over the next twelve months. Looking back, 54% report that their organisation s investment in travel risk mitigation has increased over the past year (making
06. Regional Analysis Australia and New Zealand While respondents in Australia and New Zealand say that risks to their travellers have increased over the past year, they do so by a lower than average amount (64% say risks have increased, versus 72% globally). Respondents in Australia and New Zealand report increased travel, with 52% saying the number of business travellers at their organisation has increased over the past year (this compares to 44% globally). Whilst 88% report business travellers from their organisation have travelled within Australia and New Zealand, 86% report travel to East Asia and the Pacific, while 76% report travel to Europe. North Americans (50%) and respondents based in East Asia and the Pacific are most likely to report travel to Australia and New Zealand. While terrorism is also the issue Australia and New Zealand based respondents are most likely to say has increased in the past year (62%) this is lower than the global average (71%). Respondents from this region are more likely than the global average to be concerned with extreme weather events (42% vs. 35%) or stomach and gastrointestinal problems (17% vs. 12%). Europe is most commonly thought to be a region where overall health and security risks are increasing (46%), while only 2% see risk as increasing in their own region. On the occasions that Australian and New Zealand based respondents had to modify travel itineraries, terrorism was the most common cause, but by a much less significant degree than elsewhere (35% vs a global average of 51%). Civil unrest (35%), country risk rating (33%) and extreme weather events (33%) are seen to be as disruptive as terrorism. When it comes to responding to travel health and security concerns, the most common approach is reinforced travel security measures, reported by 57% of respondents (against a global average of 50%). Providing pre-travel health programmes are also more common than average among Australia and New Zealand based respondents, being reported by 30% against a global average of 22%. Overall, Australian and New Zealand based participants expect risks to their travellers to continue to increase over the next year (54% say they will do so). With that in mind, the issues most commonly identified as being challenges in ensuring the health and security of travellers are educating employees about travel risks (55%) and communicating during a crisis (49%). Looking forward to the likeliness of various issues to arise in 2017, extreme weather events are seen as the most likely event to occur followed by stomach or gastrointestinal problems and civil unrest. However, in terms of its ability to impact on travellers in 2017, terrorism is the second ranked issue, behind extreme weather events. Over half (54%) of respondents in Australia and New Zealand expect threats to their travellers to increase in the next year, and accordingly 51% (compared to an average of 47%) expect their organisation s investment in travel risk mitigation to increase over the next 12 months. Australian and New Zealand organisations seem more concerned than most with travel risk mitigation, with 55% reporting increased investment in this area over the past year, compared to a global average of 48%. Along with North Americans, Australian and New Zealand respondents are most likely to report increased investment in travel risk mitigation in the last year, despite being less likely than the global average to say risks have increased (64% vs. 72%). 15
06. Regional Analysis East Asia and Pacific Respondents in East Asia and the Pacific are likely to believe that risks to their business travellers have increased over the past year (71%), but this is no more than the global average (72%). Again in line with the global average, 71% of East Asia and Pacific respondents say that terrorism is the issue that has most increased as a risk over the past year. The Zika virus (46%) and extreme weather events (37%) are also seen to be increasing as risks. Almost half of East Asia and Pacific based respondents (45%) say that the number of business travellers from their organisation has increased over the past year. Travel within the region is most common (88% say that business travellers from their organisations have travelled within East Asia and the Pacific), while 64% have travelled to South Asia and 60% to Europe. Despite the relative frequency of travel to South Asia, this is the region that respondents in East Asia and the Pacific are most likely to say that overall risk to the health and security of business travellers is on the rise (51%, against a global average of 38% who say this region is becoming increasing dangerous). Almost half of respondents also say that their own region and Europe are becoming increasingly threatening destinations (both 47%). When asked what is most likely to occur in 2017, respondents in East Asia and the Pacific are more likely than the global average to rank terrorism highly. They are also more likely to think of natural disasters as being likely and rather less likely to see civil unrest, petty crime or gastrointestinal problems as issues. When asked to assess what risks and incidents that could have the biggest impact should they occur in 2017, East Asia based respondents are again more likely to rank terrorism and natural disasters higher than other regions, and less likely to be concerned about civil unrest, petty crime and natural disasters. Asia are less likely than most to say that their organisations have increased their investment in travel over the past year (48% of East Asia and Pacific based respondents say this versus 42% of all respondents globally). East Asia and Pacific based respondents are among the least likely to report that they have been forced to modify travel itineraries due to health and safety concerns in the past year. Almost one in five (17%) report their organisation has never done so, against a global average of 12%. As in other regions, terrorism was most likely to force changes to travel plans (52%), with extreme weather events the second most common cause (29%). East Asian and Pacific based respondents are most likely to report the introduction of pre-trip advisory emails (43%) in response to health and security concerns, a contrast to the rest of the world where reinforced travel security measures predominate. However, only 36% of East Asia and Pacific respondents report this, against a global average of 50%. Respondents in this region also appear less likely to report multiple issues in ensuring the health and safety of travellers. All potential challenges receive lower than average mentions, including educating employees about travel risks (38% in East Asia and Pacific, vs. 49% globally) and travel policy risk compliance (mentioned by 18% in East Asia, versus 31% globally). 16 With this in mind, a majority of East Asia and Pacific based respondents (56%) say that they expect risks faced by their business travellers to increase in the next twelve months. However, this is in line with the global average (57%). Respondents in this area are less likely than average to say that they expect their organisation to increase its investment in travel risk mitigation over the next year (40% vs. 48%). Similarly, participants in East
06. Regional Analysis The Middle East Like in other regions, a majority of Middle East based respondents say that risks to their travellers have increased in the last year. However, at 69% this proportion is less than the global average (72%). Middle East based respondents are more likely to say that terrorism has increased as a risk to travellers over the past year (85%), with civil unrest (52%) also a bigger than usual concern. Travellers from the Middle East are considerably more likely to say their colleagues have travelled within the Middle East than anywhere else (90% report travel within the region in the past year). Europe (75%) and East Asia and the Pacific (56%) are the next most common destinations for Middle Eastern travellers. When it came to taking actions to keep travellers safe, reinforced travel security measures and updated risk policies (both 39%) are the most common approaches. However, as with most approaches given, respondents in the Middle East are less likely than the global average to say their organisations have employed these methods. Investment in crisis communication systems (29% in the Middle East, versus 20% globally) are the only methods with a greater uptake in the Middle East than elsewhere. While a large majority of Middle Eastern respondents say that the overall risks to the health and security of travellers has increased in their own region (84%), almost half (48%) say that risk has also increased in Europe. This is more than say the same thing about north Africa (26%) or Sub- Saharan Africa (20%). Terrorism was cited as a cause of changed plans by 61% of respondents, followed by civil unrest (49%) and country risk ratings (47%) which are each considerably higher than the global averages (of 51%, 36% and 32% respectively. When asked to rate what issues and incidents are most likely to arise in 2017, respondents based in the Middle East are more likely than the global average to rank terrorism top. Civil unrest is also significantly more likely to be ranked highly in terms of its likeliness to occur by respondents in this region. When asked to rank how disruptive various issues or incidents would be to travellers if they occurred in 2017, Middle Eastern respondents are also considerably more likely than the global average to rank terrorism and civil unrest highly. Looking ahead, 63% of respondents based in the Middle East expected risks faced by their business travellers to increase over the next 12 months. This is higher than the 57% recorded at a global level. No Middle Eastern based respondents expected risks to decline over the next year. Despite this, just over one in three (39%) expect their organisation s investment in travel risk mitigation to increase over the next 12 months, compared to a global average of 47%. 17
06. Regional Analysis Sub Saharan Africa Respondents in Sub-Saharan Africa are among the least likely compared to other regions to say that health and security risks to their travellers have increased in the past year. However, 61% of them still say this (compared to a global average of 72%). In terms of risks they think have increased, terrorism and civil unrest are the top concerns, both associated with increased risk by 53% of respondents. In the case of terrorism this is well below the global average (71%), while civil unrest is a more common than global average concern (46%). Health concerns (such as gastrointestinal problems and inadequate healthcare), road accidents and petty crime are also more commonly thought to be on the rise by Sub-Saharan Africa based respondents, though the Zika virus and extreme weather events are mentioned less frequently. An around average number of Sub-Saharan Africa based respondents report increased travel from their organisation in the past year (43% vs. a global average of 44%). Sub-Saharan Africa itself is the most commonly visited destination (with 78% of respondents saying their colleagues have travelled within the region over the past year), with Europe (58%) and North Africa (43%) in second and third place. Sub-Saharan Africa is also seen as the area where overall risk to health and security is most increasing, with 68% saying risk is increasing there. ranked, as opposed to the global level, where terrorism is seen as having the greatest potential impact. Looking forward, respondents in Sub-Saharan Africa expect the risks faced by business travellers at their organisation to increase over the next 12 months (62% expect risks to rise). However, under half (44%) expect their organisations investment in travel risk mitigation to increase over the same period, though this is an increase on the 41% who say their organisations investment in travel risk mitigation has risen in the past year. When it comes to how organisations in the region are keeping their travellers safe, half of respondents (51%) say that their organisation has updated its travel risk policy (compared to 45% who say this at a global level) while 47% say that their organisation has introduced pre-trip advisory emails (compared to a global average of 39%). Almost four out of five (79%) respondents based in Sub- Saharan Africa say that their organisation has been forced to modify travel itineraries in the past year. Respondents in this region are less likely than the global average to cite terrorism as a reason for this (with 44% doing so, compared to a global average of 51%), though civil unrest (47% in this region, compared to 36% globally) is a more common than usual cause. Sub-Saharan Africa based respondents are also more likely to report that itineraries have been changed due to infectious diseases such as Dengue and Ebola, (34% compared to a global average of 14%) and more likely to take country risk ratings into account (42%, versus a global average of 32%). Civil unrest is the issue that respondents in Sub-Saharan Africa see as most likely to occur in 2017, with terrorism a close second. Infectious diseases are also seen as more likely (ranked fourth in this region, compared to sixth overall). When ranking issues in terms of their ability to impact on business travellers in 2017, civil unrest is top 18
06. Regional Analysis South Asia Around three quarters of respondents based in South Asia (72%) say that risks to their travellers have increased over the past year. This is similar to the global average. As in many other regions, terrorism is the risk that is most thought to have increased, with 76% saying this risk has increased over the past year (compared to a global average of 71%). Respondents in South Asia are considerably more likely than the global average to say the number of business travellers at their organisation has increased over the past year (66% versus 44%). Respondents from this region are as likely to say that their colleagues have travelled to East Asia and the Pacific as they are to their own region (66% in both cases) with almost three quarters (72%) reporting travellers from their organisations had visited Europe. South Asia is the area where overall risk to the health and security of business travellers is most commonly thought to be increasing (mentioned by 64% of respondents), with Europe in a close second (mentioned by 61%). (compared to 47% of respondents who say this globally). Furthermore, 50% of respondents in South Asia say that confirming employees have read pre-travel information is a barrier, compared to a global average of 37%. Looking forward to 2017 an around average number of South Asia based respondents (54% against a global average of 57%) say that they expect risks faced by travellers from their organisation to increase over the next year. Accordingly, 50% of respondents expect their organisations to increase investment in travel risk mitigation. A large majority (90%) of respondents report that their organisation has been forced to modify travel itineraries in the past year (compared to an average of 80%). Terrorism is cited as the most common reason (reported by 61% of respondents, against a global average of 51%). Respondents in South Asia are also more likely to report their organisation has been forced to change travel plans due to civil unrest (43% versus 36%). A large majority of respondents (69%) based in South Asia report that their organisation has reinforced travel security measures in response to health and security concerns over the past year (compared to a global average of 50%). Other common methods of keeping travellers safe include introducing pre-trip advisory emails (reported by 62% of South Asia based respondents, compared to 39% globally), updated risk policies and programmes to locate travellers (both reported by 41% of respondents) However, despite these efforts to inform employees about risks while travelling, communications seem to be a challenge when it comes to ensuring the health and security of travellers. Over half of respondents (54%) based in South Asia say that educating employees about travel risk is a challenge in ensuring the health and safety of travellers (compared to a global average of 49%), while 57% say that communicating during a crisis is a challenge 19
TRAVEL RISKS & REALITY RISE IN RISK TO TRAVELLERS 72% say travel risks have increased over the past year Those in Europe and North America most likely to say this 57% expect travel risks to increase in 2017 80% say their business has modified itineraries due to health or travel security concerns 16% North America 28% Central and South America 50% Europe 23% North Africa 44% Middle East 24% Sub Saharan Africa 13% Russia and Central Asia 38% South Asia 28% East Asia and Pacific 2% Australia and New Zealand 51% due to terrorism 36% due to civil unrest 32% due to country risk ratings...say risks have increased for travellers to this region BUT BUSINESS TRAVEL CONTINUES TO RISE 44% say number of travellers at their business have increased 48% 47% 2016 2017 report increased investment in travel risk mitigation over the past year expect investment to increase in the coming year 20
THE CHALLENGES OF PROTECTING PEOPLE Top 5 responses from businesses (% have done this ): 50% 45% 39% 32% 25% Reinforced travel security measures Updated travel risk policy Introduced pre-trip advisory emails Implemented travel safety training Implemented programmes to locate travellers Seen as the biggest challenges to protecting travellers faced by organisations: 49% Educating employees about travel risks 47% communicating with employees during a crisis 42% tracking employee travel THE CHALLENGES OF PROTECTING PEOPLE Will have biggest overall impact Stomach gastrointestinal problems Zika virus Gun violence Inadequate healthcare Extreme weather events Natural disasters Infectious diseases Civil unrest Terrorism Likelihood to arise Petty crime Road accidents Non-infectious diseases Flu In October 2016, Ipsos MORI conducted a global survey targeted to those who organise, influence, or are responsible for, their organisation s travel and risk mitigation policies. This survey findings represent responses from 1,119 people in 75 countries. 21
About Ipsos Global Reputation Centre About International SOS The Ipsos Global Reputation Centre has over 40 years experience helping some of the world s most admired companies to monitor and manage their most important intangible asset; their reputation. International SOS is the world s leading medical and travel security risk services company. We care for clients across the globe, from more than 1000 locations in 90 countries. Falkland Islands (G.B.) www.ipsosmori.com www.internationalsos.com South Shetland Islands (G.B.) 22 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (G.B.) South Orkney Islands (G.B.)