Business travel professionals didn’t like President Donald Trump’s original travel ban, and they don’t like the revised one, either, according to a new survey.
The good news? They’re slightly less pessimistic.
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) polled its U.S. and European members this week to assess the business travel impact of the president’s revised executive order on travel. It took a similar survey in January.
In general, the Europeans held a dimmer view than their American counterparts.
Expect less business travel to the United States
Here’s how it breaks down.
–37 percent of U.S. travel professionals expect their companies to travel less.
–47 percent of European travel pros expect their companies to travel less.
Some European companies are already cutting back on travel. 17 percent of Europeans said their companies had cancelled some business travel to the United States.
“There is always the risk that closing our borders sends the message that the United States is closed for business, and the results of this poll show the perception of the United States as a welcoming destination for business travel has been altered,” said Michael W. McCormick, executive director of the Alexandria, Virginia-based association.
More impact in Europe
Quick background: Trump’s revised executive order puts a 90-day block on travelers from Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the United States. Several states have challenged the executive order in court.
Here are some other findings from the survey, which was conducted online March 7-8.
–44 percent of European travel professionals said their organization has employees traveling abroad who might be—or are—affected by the travel ban.
–20 percent said their companies had directed them to cancel or delay travel of employees who are nationals of countries included in the ban.
Lessened concerns in the U.S.
U.S. travel professionals reported less concern in the latest poll about employees traveling abroad. Here’s how they ranked “lasting concerns” about the travel ban in the March and January polls.
–It makes travel more difficult for U.S. travelers (51 percent vs. 63 percent).
–It complicated travel to the United States (44 percent vs. 56 percent).
–It increases threats against U.S. travelers abroad (41 percent vs. 54 percent).
Opposition, support remain steady
U.S. travel professionals expressed similar levels of support and opposition for the revised travel ban as they did for the original one. Just over half (52 percent) said they strongly or somewhat oppose this action, while 35 percent strongly or somewhat support it.
That compares with 50 percent and 38 percent, respectively, in the initial poll.
