US Travel Ban Disrupts Business Travel Plans
Business travel is expected to take at least a short-term hit due to US President Donald Trump’s travel ban executive order, according to a member-poll taken by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).
“Business travel drives lasting business growth and is a leading indicator for jobs,” said GBTA executive director Michael W. McCormick. “With 30% of companies expected to reduce travel, the economy will certainly take a hit. While we understand the need for security, GBTA is a strong proponent of risk-based security programs like the Visa Waiver Program. By facilitating travel and trade with 38 countries, the Visa Waiver Program spurs job creation and economic growth, while remaining the gold standard of security and efficiency in balancing the need to protect the American public while facilitating global business travel. We hope to have the opportunity to work with the Administration going forward to form policies that ensure safe, secure and efficient travel.”
Thirty-one per cent of travel professionals expect the ban to cause a reduction in their company’s business travel in the immediate ensuing three months. Similarly, nearly three in 10 also expect the ban to negatively impact their company’s business travel in both the short-term (29%) over the next three to six months and the long-term (28%) over the next six to 12 months and beyond.
The polarizing nature of today’s politics in the United States showed itself in the conflicting views on support for the travel ban. Half of the travel professionals surveyed strongly or somewhat oppose this action, while nearly four in 10 (38%) strongly or somewhat support it.
Travel professionals cited potential for countries to respond to this ban, making travel more difficult for US travellers (63%), complications in travel to the United States (56%) and increased threats against US travellers abroad (54%) as their top concerns for lasting impacts of the travel ban.
