Better integrated transport options are needed to support business travel and regional economic development.
The call comes from the Business Travel Association (BTA), which has conducted research with Censuswide. It suggests that training is the number one reason for business travel in Wales (35.5%).
While in-person training is on the rise, the infrastructure to support that travel still falls short, says the BTA. It said that car and air are tied as the preferred modes of transport (35.48%), but that in reality cars dominate, with 34.6% using them most often for business travel.
A lack of reliable rail services or integrated options is limiting choice, especially for regional or cross-border journeys, it says.
Nationally, the BTA report highlights a growing mismatch between business travel needs and available infrastructure, the organisation said. While rail is viewed more positively than car for sustainability and productivity, reliability and limited service coverage mean it’s often not a viable option – particularly in regions like Wales.
The BTA is calling for better integrated, multi-modal solutions that support both business and regional economic development – especially in areas where car dependency is high not by choice, but by necessity.
Clive Wratten, CEO of BTA, said:
“The outdated perception of business travel as just a London-based, suit-wearing executive hopping between cities isn’t just wrong – it’s damaging. Our research has shown that the majority of travelling for work is domestic and it powers our economy. Big cities often have better services, as seen in London, but the same cannot be said for all regions, with areas in the North and Midlands suffering from fragmented services.
“We at the BTA welcome continued investment from the government to address the infrastructure needs of this growing industry. It’s time to deliver targeted support for routes, services and accessibility across all modes of transport. Travel management companies (TMCs), transport providers and the actual businesses travelling all need to be part of this conversation to guarantee progress.”
Across industries – from skilled trades and hospitality to education and tech – people are travelling for vital, in-person work: site visits, project delivery, hands-on training and relationship building. Of those surveyed, 62% of trips taken on average were domestic, and more than two-thirds of travellers (67%) take at least one work trip per month.
While general assumptions that remote work might ultimately reduce the demand for in-person interactions, 89% of respondents said they expect to maintain or increase their business travel in the year ahead.
Some of the most common reasons for travel include relationship building (30%), project work (28%) and events and conferences (28%).
The research found that Gen Z – 41% of respondents in this group are in middle and senior management roles – are leading the charge for international travel (35% of trips). 58% of Gen Z respondents also specifically travel for project-work, site visits or research and fieldwork, engaging in meaningful and purpose-led trips.
The research reveals that cars are the favoured mode of transport, with 30% of respondents preferring cars for domestic travel purposes. 37% said greater connectivity would make rail more appealing for their business, and 54% said the same for reliability and 51% pricing. These issues mean many workers feel they have no choice but to travel by road.
Rail is not currently meeting the needs of those travelling for work. While the vast majority of respondents recognise its advantages – 73% say it’s better than car travel for environmental impact, and 69% say it offers greater productivity on the move – these benefits are being overshadowed by persistent challenges. High prices, poor reliability, and patchy connectivity are limiting uptake.
Accessibility remains a major barrier to equitable business travel. While 38% of disabled professionals surveyed travel at least weekly for work, only 13% of respondents said accessibility has no impact on their ability to travel.
The challenges are most acute on the railways, where inconsistent step-free access, understaffed stations and trains unable to accommodate mobility aids create serious limitations.
The challenge of ‘last mile’ solutions – the onward travel often required to get from the station to a person’s end location – is widely felt. 91% of respondents said that the availability of integrated booking and ticketing systems that encompass rail travel and onward transport options is important in making rail a more attractive option.
Many respondents expressed a desire for simpler, more connected travel experiences. Over half (51%) want an integrated solution – where domestic, short-haul and long-haul journeys, across all modes, can be booked and managed under one system. Yet nearly a quarter still book their travel for work independently.
