Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on International Business Travel and Associated Health Issues: A Survey of Japanese Public Companies (Preprint)

Abstract

Compared to long-term expatriates, the health issues of short-term international business travellers are less clear. Particularly, there are no reports on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We explored the changes in health challenges faced by Japanese international business travellers owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: Cross-sectional survey research using questionnaires Setting: We surveyed 3,845 listed public companies in Japan in September 2021. Participants: A total of 251 companies responded, of which 131 (52%) had foreign travel requirements for their business. Primary and secondary outcome measures: The survey included questions regarding company size, business type, necessity for foreign travel, destination and number of trips, common health issues that arise, and the importance of business travel before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: Among the companies, 44% replied that they could not predict the number of foreign business trips after the pandemic. However, 64% of companies responded that business travel would continue to be important in the future. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the most important health concerns faced by business travellers were illness during travel (42%), followed by the prevention of infectious diseases and lifestyle disease management. Post-pandemic, 48% of the responses were for infectious diseases, including COVID-19, followed by 40% for travel-related diseases, and 25% for lifestyle-related diseases.

Owing to global economic and social activities, business travel will continue to be necessary in the post-COVID-19 era. Comprehensive health management including prevention of infectious diseases is desirable for business travel.