87 Percent Female Business Travellers Report Facing Harassment: Survey

During last year, 87 percent of female Indian business travellers have been harassed on a business trip, a travel survey report by SAP Concur, an integrated travel, expense, and invoice management solutions company said. Additionally, as many as 62 percent say they have suffered the indignity of being asked if they were traveling with their husband.

Key Takeaways:

• SAP Concur, an integrated travel, expense, and invoice management solutions company conducted a travel survey and published its report.
• According to the survey, around 87 percent of female business travellers in India admitted that they faced harassment.
• Also, 62 percent of the women business travellers also said that they have suffered the humiliation of being asked if they were traveling with their husbands.
• The survey was conducted among 500 business travellers and it revealed many facts about business travel in India.

According to the survey, around 87 percent of female business travellers in India admitted that they faced harassment.

The aim of this survey was to understand how business travel affects individuals and how they prioritise safety, comfort, and convenience on their business trips, according to The Wire. The survey which was conducted by the research firm Wakefield Research has global findings of business travellers in other countries as well. Some of the findings of the research were: While 28 percent of business travellers in India prioritised their safety, 29 percent put business first. Safety remained a key issue while travelling and around 68 percent of the business travellers had changed their travel accommodation owing to safety issues. Travellers also cited political unrest or health hazards as some reasons affecting their travel. Sixty-six percent of them also felt that there was a gap in the adoption of travel safety tools such as automated safety alerts about their destination.

UK Issues Travel Advisory On Women Safety In India

Women's safety has always been a matter of concern in India. With every passing day, the situation, instead of getting better is continuously worsening. A few days back, after two brutal murders and rapes shook the nation, UK had issued a travel advisory to women travelling to India. The advisory is titled ‘India Travel Advice’ and was posted on November 19, 2019.  In this, the government mentioned in the safety and security category that women travellers “should exercise caution when travelling in India even if travelling in a group.”

The advisory also asked women to respect the local dress codes and customs. It also suggested:

• Avoid isolated areas when alone at any time of day
• Avoid travelling alone in public transport
• Not to leave drinks unattended

Also Read: Swati Maliwal, DCW Chief Writes To PM Modi On Bill For Women’s Safety

There is a part in the advisory that gave examples of foreign nationals who were sexually assaulted. It said, “British women have been the victims of sexual assault in Goa, Delhi and Rajasthan and women travellers often receive unwanted attention in the form of verbal and physical harassment by individuals or groups of men. Serious sexual attacks involving foreign nationals have been reported. In April 2018, a Latvian woman was sexually assaulted and strangled in Thiruvallam, Kerala. More recently, in December 2018 a British woman was raped in Goa.”

The survey also found that while 28 percent of business travellers in India prioritised their safety, 29 percent put business first.

US Advisory

In line with UK, US also has issued an advisory to women travelling to India. The UK advisory is quite similar to the US advisory published in March this year. It said that Indian authorities report rape as one of the fastest-growing crimes in India and asked to exercise increased caution. “Indian authorities report rape is one of the fastest-growing crimes in India. Violent crime, such as sexual assault, has occurred at tourist sites and in other locations.”

Also Read: It’s Been Seven Years Nirbhaya, And We Continue To Fail You