Relaxed rules reveal pent-up demand for business travel

The travel management platform, CWT has observed a significant increase in travel to and from several countries that have recently relaxed testing and quarantine requirements for international travel. In the UK, CWT data shows weekly bookings for outbound international travel have increased by 115% since the country announced, 24 January, that it would scrap testing for fully vaccinated travellers from 11 February. Inbound bookings have soared 169% compared to the week before the announcement. It’s a similar story in India where outbound bookings climbed 64%, while inbound bookings are up 139%, following the announcement on 10 February that vaccinated travellers from 82 countries would no longer need to show a negative test result or isolate starting 14 February. In Norway, which went a step further and put an end to testing for all travellers—including those who are unvaccinated—with immediate effect on 12 February, weekly outbound and inbound bookings have risen as much as 72% and 67%, respectively. Michelle McKinney Frymire, CEO of CWT, said:  “We are seeing the highest levels of business travel since the pandemic began and, while traveller health and safety must always remain the number one priority, removing hurdles and uncertainty will be key in achieving a full recovery. This, in turn, will help stimulate economic growth, and it is encouraging to see the potential benefits arising from some countries relaxing these restrictions.”