A third (34%) of business travellers have done more travel in the first six months of 2011 than between January and June in 2010, according to a new survey.
However, the poll, from insurance company Mapfre Assistance, of some 526 business travellers also revealed that a majority (43%) had seen no increase in business travel, while 23% said they had done less.
Leire Jimenez, Mapfre Assistance’s head of B2B Travel, said: “Our research suggests that the business travel market is on the up and business travellers expect that trend to continue.
“This should provide an opportunity for business travel firms to increase revenue from an increase in passenger numbers.”
The survey, carried out by market research company Consumer Intelligence, also revealed a likely increase in the number of overseas trips taken by business travellers from the UK over the next six months.
Looking forward, 29% of those polled expect to travel more over the next six months, while 43% expect the number of overseas business trips to stay the same and 21% expect a decrease.
In terms of destinations, Europe ranked highest, with 81% of respondents saying they have been on a business trip there in the past six months.
Asia came in second place, with 12% saying they have been there, while 10% have visited North America on business, and 5% the Middle East.
www.mapfreassistance.co.uk