There a whole stack of different reasons for business travel, what defines essential? I had a colleague who (some years ago now) who used to travel from Melbourne to visit various parts of in Asia regularly spending two weeks conducting environmental and safety inspections of sites to help improve performance and reduce risks. Is that an essential worker? Probably not. Is it something that could save injuries and lives?
It's difficult to make that judgement. I assume companies are making that judgement themselves before applying, as it does seem quite costly, given the quarantine and insurance costs that are required to be borne. I suspect very few, if any companies (perhaps other than self-owned ones) would be sending their staff on "junkets" at this time.
Just found this thread after it had been hived off from the original.)
So I did a google search for 'business travel'. TMC website:
What Is Business Travel? Typical Reasons For Work Travel | TMC Finder lists the main reasons for undertaking business travel:
What are the main reasons for business travel?
• Networking. A handshake followed by a face-to-face chat is still the best way to meet and get to know someone – much better than Skype calls or reading dozens of emails and text messages. You may also want to personally show your leadership skills.
• Examples & samples. You may need to take examples or samples of your work or see examples or samples of something you’re considering investing in. Explaining something – such as a product or service you offer – while with someone and actually seeing they understand is much better than any other way.
• Be personal. You want to meet suppliers, customers or clients to take them for drinks and a meal and personally give them a gift as a way of showing your gratitude. You want to show them that they are worth the time that it takes to make a personal visit.
• Check conditions. You prefer to visit suppliers to see everything looks fine. For example, someone having T-shirts made wants to see the conditions for workers are good. Or you are supplied food products and want to see where it grows and the facilities where it’s produced and packaged. These conditions can never be properly assessed through a flat screen.
• Location location location. Your company may have offices in various locations and it’s helpful to visit so you know the environment. Or you may need to inspect something for work purposes, such as a plot of land you’re interested in.
• Attending meetings and events. You need to attend a meeting, lecture, exhibition or show that’s relevant to your business.
• Search the world. You want to look for or confirm new products are right for your business. You want to meet potential new suppliers or employees.
• Doing a deal. Business advisers Oxford Economics discovered through research that potential customers are nearly twice as likely to sign with you if you have a face-to-face meeting. So it’s definitely worth making that trip to see them.
• Incentives. These trips are to motivate employees, and involve such as going on team-building weekends – which although might involve a leisure event are essentially for business purposes.
To me, most of those things on the list - in the current environment where we're all supposed to be in this together - could either be postponed or done via remote channels.
And there will be people taking advantage of a 'business travel' exemption to do some of the things on that list.
The example you provided - doing a site inspection for safety, or perhaps others like delivering aid/medical assistance, or flying to the US to help firefighters... I wouldn't consider that 'business' but essential services.
So maybe it's just the way the government is phrasing it.