UK Business travel trips to high-risk destinations have grown by more than 50 per cent in the first-half of 2015 compared to the same period last year, a study has found.
In the first six months of this year business travellers made 2.4 million visits to destinations that experienced level three security incidents – these include attempted coups and terrorist attacks - up from 1.6 million in the first half of 2014.
The study by travel services firm Collinson Group found 41 countries registered level three incidents with Middle Eastern, North African and sub-Saharan African countries making up the vast majority.
The data shows that Yemen tops the list of countries experiencing the most serious incidents, with threats ranging across air strikes, car bombs and kidnapping. Iraq, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Syria make up the top five.
Collinson Group head of assistance, Mark Rands, said: “The world remains a challenging place for business travellers, both in countries we might associate as being more inherent with risk but also in those we tend to not think twice about.
“With the demand and requirement for business travel remaining high, information and preparation are key.”
Collinson Group is advising employers to review their corporate travel policies and consider what mechanisms they have in place to respond to a broadening array of emergency scenarios.
Read analysis on terror attacks and risk management.