Business Travel Demand Is on a Steady Rise But Government Policies Continue to Hamper Return to International Travel

 

Latest GBTA poll shows non-essential business travel gaining but critical functions for business continue to be impacted by global travel restrictions More companies are reporting a willingness and actual return to business travel, with domestic travel taking the lead. However, government restrictions on international travel continue to hinder the ability for companies to conduct key business functions. This is according to the latest poll from GBTA. This poll is the 21st in a series tracking the pulse of GBTA’s membership of global travel buyers and suppliers and how the travel industry overall is managing the return to business travel, post-pandemic. This latest poll shows a 12% increase compared to last month in companies opening travel and fewer companies suspending or cancelling all travel. Domestic business travel is now widely allowed and corporate bookings and travel spend continues to rise month on month. And three in four (77%) GBTA members and stakeholders feel their employees are ‘willing’ or ‘very willing’ to travel for business in the current environment. View Poll Results >> Business Travel Industry Calls for the Reopening of Canada-US Borders GBTA has united the business travel sector to advocate for the Trudeau Government and Biden Administration to take immediate and necessary action to open the Canada-US Borders, allowing for free flow of business travel. “The next Canada-USA border review is due on July 21, and while we certainly appreciate the Government’s easing of restrictions that came into effect on July 5th for vaccinated Canadians returning to Canada, business travel remains stunted for land crossings and Americans entering into Canada. The time is right to kick-start the economy and safely open Canada-USA borders, to allow non-essential travel, including business travel which has now been halted for over 480 days. Leading indicators are all positive, the rapid roll-out of the vaccination programs and decreasing rates of infection, should allow for restrictions to be eased safely,” said Nancy Tudorache, Regional VP GBTA Canada. Read Full Press Release >> Tags: GBTA