Survey Shows Impact of Paris Attacks On Travel Industry

A survey conducted by Business Travel Coalition in response to the terror attacks in Paris show that only 20% of respondents are “very or somewhat likely” to cancel travel to France for some period of time.

The purpose of the survey was to provide an early snapshot for travel and risk managers to understand how companies and other organizations are responding regarding potential near-term travel policy changes. Eighty-four corporate, university and government travel, sourcing and risk managers from 17 countries participated in the survey, which can be found at http://btcnews.co/1WYOShA.

The results are prospective in the sense that any travel policy changes, for most organizations, have not yet been decided upon, but rather, are under consideration in real time. As the French government investigation proceeds, and facts change, i.e. discovery of additional imminent attacks, or actual attacks, organizational responses regarding travel policy could change significantly. Survey results act as a baseline for future surveys to gauge response to moving circumstances:

• 20% of survey participants are very or somewhat likely to cancel travel to France for some period of time.
• 20% are somewhat likely to cancel travel to/within Europe for some period of time.
• 70% are very or somewhat likely to allow employees discretion with regard to travel to France.
• 55% are very or somewhat likely to allow employees discretion with regard to travel to/within Europe.
• 16% are very or somewhat likely to cancel travel to France until the investigation determines if the attack is just one of many in the planning stages.
• 5% are very or somewhat likely to cancel travel to/within Europe until the investigation determines if the attack is just one of many more in the planning stages.
• 30% are very or somewhat likely to cancel travel to France if the attack is just one of many more in the planning stages until strategic modifications to travel policy are considered.
• 35% are very or somewhat likely to cancel travel to/within Europe if the attack is just one of many more in the planning stages until strategic modifications to travel policy are considered.
• 55% indicate their company’s Duty-of-Care policy will drive any modification to travel policy.

Not surprisingly the vast majority of companies/organizations are likely to provide their employees personal discretion regarding travel to France and to and within Europe – 70% and 55% respectively.