The number of national and international business trips has increased again. But the imminent introduction of a complex traffic light system Emphasizes the importance of companies to plan their trips thoroughly. Charline Gelin and Dr. Advised Mark Parrish from International SOS
Travel restrictions and intelligence
When we look specifically at business travel, we find that our customers’ travel behavior is increasing in activity based on data we monitor in our tracking tool. The global domestic travel volume rose to around a fifth of the prepandemic in March 2021. International arrivals have also increased in certain locations. For example, business trips to Qatar in 2021 are already 20% at pre-pandemic levels.
This shows us that travel is seen as critical for many companies. However, is the risk being considered and are organizations looking for the latest and greatest advice?
The pandemic has severely impacted the security, medical, and global logistical environments. For example, because the pandemic and its second- and third-order consequences affect the underlying security dynamics of the sites, they can lead to situations that require increased evacuation or relocation for which improved preparation is vital. From a logistical point of view, in these ever-changing times, it is important to always be informed about the latest restrictions, regulations and travel requirements.
Even within the same country, regulations can change from region to region, significantly affecting your workforce’s domestic travel. Make sure you access and communicate reliable and up-to-date safety information and analysis, as well as provide logistical information to your employees so that they comply with local regulations. On-site experts are often best placed to provide real-time actionable information to your reps that they can access to fully prepare.
For example, in the UK, travel restrictions will continue to apply until at least May 17th. These restrictions include a suspension of the travel corridors and a quarantine of at least 10 days for all arrivals. For travelers arriving from a country on the Red List on the list of travel bans, the quarantine restrictions stipulate that at least 10 days must be spent in a government-approved hotel.
Even if you are traveling from a green list country, the new system requires you to take one test before you leave, and another within two days of your arrival in the UK. The government also announced in March a £ 5,000 fine for travelers departing for no good reason – despite the Global Travel Taskforce’s report saying that as of May 17, travelers traveling to foreign territories will no longer need to prove that they have a valid reason to leave the UK.
One thing is clear: despite a global pandemic with the same virus and the same science and research available to all, each country has made different decisions about how to deal with the pandemic and its travel restrictions will likely follow the same line: from different tests, different time frames for the validity of the test, different quarantine requirements, requirements for proof of vaccination. Standardization is unlikely to occur.
Covid-19 vaccine information and access
Geopolitics and global economic inequality affect access to vaccines, which can affect business travel. Some countries have been buying up vaccine supplies quickly, causing delays for less affluent countries. In addition, limited social resources, inadequate health infrastructure and insecurity will all contribute to uneven global vaccination efforts.
These factors have a direct impact on the international activities of the organizations. If travel restrictions for vaccinated people are relaxed, people in countries that do not have access to vaccines may face additional hurdles when doing business trips around the world. In addition, some countries may not accept or recognize certain vaccines, making it even more difficult to travel internationally.
Each country has made different decisions about how to deal with the pandemic, and its travel restrictions will likely follow the same line: from different tests to different time frames for the validity of the test to different quarantine requirements and requirements for proof of vaccination
International SOS has also found that many organizations have used the vaccination rollout as a trigger for potential return to offices and domestic business travel. However, as the pace of vaccination programs remains uneven and new variants emerge, various national and international restrictions are likely to remain in place for the coming year. Again, this underscores the need to stay one step ahead of the latest global developments as constraints evolve and change.
Your due diligence and travel policy
One way for companies to ensure they are complying with the latest laws and restrictions is to update their travel policies. This could include a higher level of supervision and planning for any trip, not just trips to high risk locations. By performing a risk assessment and planning each trip more closely, organizations can reduce the risk of missing critical information or updates on restrictions. This is also an important part of a due diligence framework. Implementing medical and safety triggers can also be a positive addition to a travel policy update. This will help reduce the pre-trip risks the traveler may face and can help your company define what is considered business critical.
You may also want to include a Covid vaccination policy, or at least make sure you have fact-based information about the countries you are traveling to. And how do you calculate the risk for your travelers? Would you like to add the Covid risk? And which Covid age will you associate with an increased risk? And under what extenuating circumstances will you reduce this risk? What about vaccinated people: How does this change their risk of Covid? And it’s not just about Covid, which has cost so much money over the past 12 months: the impact has underscored the need for psychological support for our employees, including our travelers (it’s not easy to stay in quarantine for 14 days in unsuitable accommodation or because they cannot leave a country due to a change in policy).
From implementing a new travel policy to setting up a Covid-19 vaccination program, your return to travel can be a complex process, with every step of the way requiring strategic thinking. Make sure that all elements are captured using a comprehensive and integrated approach that takes into account both health and safety risks.
Boost traveler confidence and provide support
Some travelers will be very happy to travel again while others prefer to wait a little longer. Companies need to think about adapting their return strategy to the travel strategy so that it is suitable for both types of travelers. Communication is essential to foster traveller’s confidence and safety. Before, during and even after your trip, it is critical that the stakeholders responsible for travelers have shared and updated each other and the travelers with the latest developments, requirements and risks.
Countries will continue to update their travel restrictions as cases arise to protect their populations and prevent a surge in Covid-19 activity. Organizations need to stay informed and agile to manage announced changes and quickly adapt their policies and strategies so they can protect their businesses and employees.
