Travel to and from several countries that have recently eased testing and quarantine regulations for international travel has increased significantly, according to CWT, the business-to-business-for-employees (B2B4E) travel management platform.
Weekly reservations for outbound international travel in the United Kingdom (UK) have climbed 115 per cent since the country stated on January 24 that it will discontinue testing for fully vaccinated visitors beginning on 11 February, according to CWT booking statistics. Inbound reservations have increased by 169 per cent after the announcement.
In India, outbound bookings increased by 64 per cent, while inbound bookings increased by 139%, following the news on February 10 that vaccinated travellers from 82 countries would no longer be required to produce a negative test result or isolate from February 14.
In Norway, which went a step further and eliminated testing for all travelers—including those who are unvaccinated—on February 12, weekly outbound and inbound bookings increased by up to 72 per cent and 67 per cent, respectively.
“The strength of pent-up demand for business travel is clear,” said CWT’s CEO, Michelle McKinney Frymire. “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. We continue to make major investments in our innovative platform and services to create an unbeatable experience for companies and their travelers, so we’re eager to help more people reconnect in-person with their colleagues and business partners this year.”
