Business travellers want more safety, support and reassurance
Kuala Lumpur, 1 April 2026 – Safety concerns, frequent disruption and rising expectations of employer support are reshaping how employees experience travel for work, and how they judge the companies they work for.
Zurich’s new report, Business Travel Outlook 2026 – How to navigate a new era of disruption, based on responses from 4,000 international business travellers across five continents and eight countries, finds that disruption has become the norm. Four in five respondents (80%) experienced at least one disruption while traveling for work in 2025, and more than half faced an incident or emergency during a business trip.
Those incidents increasingly go beyond delays and logistics. One in five travellers (20%) encountered natural disasters, geopolitical threats or societal unrest – more than those reporting medical incidents (13%) – and 43 percent say they feel less safe traveling for business than they used to.
Younger travellers are feeling the strain. Gen Z employees are less confident about how to respond in an emergency, more concerned about mental health while traveling, and more likely to lose belongings than older generations. They also travel internationally more often and are more likely to mix business and leisure “(bleisure” travel), a fast-growing trend that can create new risks and protection gaps if policies don’t keep pace.
The findings tell a stark story about what is at stake for employers. Nearly three in five respondents (58%) believe their employer could do more to ensure their safety while traveling, and a similar proportion (60%) say they would consider leaving their job if safety wasn’t a priority.
“As business travel enters a new era of rapid change and greater complexity, the need for proactive support for business travellers has never been greater. Disruptions, safety concerns and shifting employee expectations are shaping today’s travel landscape. Business leaders must invest in tailored travel protection to prioritise employee wellbeing. Taking decisive steps will help safeguard the traveling workforce, retain top talent, and strengthen organisational resilience.“ says Cara Morton, CEO, Global Businesses and Operations.
“In Malaysia’s evolving travel landscape, companies must ensure their workforce is protected whether traveling strictly for business or combining their trip with personal time. Zurich Malaysia’s comprehensive solutions bridge the gaps in conventional coverage by offering protection that includes medical emergencies, travel disruptions, and cyber resilience. This commitment to care for what matters allows employees to travel confidently, knowing their well-being is always a priority.” said Junior Cho, Country CEO of Zurich Malaysia.
With most respondents (81%) planning to mix business and leisure travel in 2026, the report highlights the need for clearer guidance, better preparation and more responsive travel risk management approaches that reflect how people travel today – not how they travelled a decade ago.
Key findings from the report
• 80% of international business travellers experienced at least one disruption while traveling for work in 2025.
• 53% reported at least one travel incident or emergency in 2025.
• 43% feel less safe travelling for business than they used to.
• 81% plan to combine business and leisure travel in 2026.
• 58% agreed their employer could do more to ensure safety.
• 60% would quit their employer if they felt their safety when traveling was not a priority.
• 26% – including 32% of Gen Z – are unsure or do not know what to do in an emergency abroad.
The Business Outlook Survey 2026 harnesses the insights of 4,000 employed individuals who travelled internationally for business at least once during 2025. Survey responses were collected by Opinium Research from December 19, 2025, to January 5, 2026, with 500 participants each from the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, and Singapore.
The full report, Business Travel Outlook 2026 – How to navigate a new era of disruption is available for download on Zurich’s website.
About Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich)
Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) is a leading global multi-line insurer founded more than 150 years ago, which has grown into a business serving more than 82 million customers in more than 200 countries and territories, while delivering industry-leading total shareholder returns.
Reflecting its purpose to ‘create a brighter future together,’ Zurich offers protection services that go beyond traditional insurance, to support its customers in building resilience. Since 2020, the Zurich Forest project has supported reforestation and biodiversity restoration in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.
The Group has more than 65,000 employees and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd (ZURN) is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and has a level I American Depositary Receipt (ZURVY) program, which is traded over-the-counter on OTCQX. Further information is available at www.zurich.com.
About Zurich Malaysia
Zurich Malaysia is a collective reference term for the Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) business subsidiaries operating in Malaysia: Zurich General Insurance Malaysia Berhad, Zurich Life Insurance Malaysia Berhad, Zurich General Takaful Malaysia Berhad and Zurich Takaful Malaysia Berhad. Zurich Malaysia offers a broad range of comprehensive insurance and takaful solutions; helping individuals as well as business owners understand and protect themselves, their businesses and their assets from risk. Zurich Malaysia has an integrated branch network in major cities nationwide as well as dedicated agency and distribution channels nationwide to serve the needs of its customers. For further information on Zurich Malaysia, visit http://www.zurich.com.my.