LGBTQ+ UK business travellers under-supported, survey reveals

Only one in eight UK business travellers receive LGBTQ+ rights and safety information from their employers before travelling internationally, according to new research by global travel risk management firm World Travel Protection.

The company’s annual business traveller survey revealed that 53% of respondents believe work travel is less safe for LGBTQ+ individuals, while 11% said they had experienced or witnessed harassment related to sexuality on a work trip. Yet just 12% said their organisation provides destination-specific guidance on LGBTQ+ laws and safety.

Paul Trotter, Intelligence and Security Lead at World Travel Protection, warned that this gap in preparation can expose employees to serious risks. “Businesses have a responsibility to support their LGBTQ+ employees when they travel for work,” he said. “Inclusive travel policies aren’t optional – they’re essential.”

With more than 70 countries criminalising same-sex relationships and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment rising even in more progressive regions, Trotter urges companies to take a proactive approach to safeguarding their staff.

World Travel Protection has outlined six key recommendations for employers:

• Understand the legal landscape: in some countries, LGBTQ+ apps or websites can lead to fines or imprisonment. Removing them from devices may be a necessary precaution
• Consider the culture: even without restrictive laws, social stigma can endanger travellers. Businesses should advise on local customs and encourage cautious behaviour, including using a buddy system
• Engage carefully with authorities: where LGBTQ+ identities are criminalised, law enforcement may not be safe to engage with. Companies should ensure travellers are aware of such risks
• Safety in numbers: LGBTQ+ travellers should ideally be accompanied by colleagues, especially in less welcoming destinations
• Leverage technology: real-time alerts and support via apps like World Travel Protection’s Travel Assist can offer peace of mind and emergency assistance
• Prioritise mental health: employers must check in regularly and provide access to mental health support during and after trips.

Trotter concluded: “We advise companies not to assume they know who will need this information. Instead, information should be available to all employees so everyone can review what they need to stay safe.”

Joe Cronin, President of International Citizens Insurance, recently spoke to ITIJ about the top three politically related reasons Americans are choosing to leave the US.