PETALING JAYA: 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 Insurance’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 travelling 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% say they feel less safe travelling 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 travelling, 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 travelling, 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 travelling workforce, retain top talent, and strengthen organisational resilience,” said Cara Morton, CEO of global businesses and operations at Zurich..
“In Malaysia’s evolving travel landscape, companies must ensure their workforce is protected whether travelling 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 wellbeing is always a priority.” said Zurich Malaysia country CEO Junior Cho.
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 harnessed 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 Dec 19, 2025, to Jan 5, 2026, with 500 participants each from the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, and Singapore.
