Bill Gates Predicts Business Travel Will Decrease by 50% Post-COVID-19

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates predicts that over 50% of business travel will disappear in the post-coronavirus working world. On top of that, he also predicts that "30% of days in the office will disappear." 

Gates made his predictions in an interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin during the New York Times’ Dealbook conference on Tuesday.

He added that from now on there will be a "very high threshold" for traveling to carry out business meetings. 

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The travel industry has suffered hugely because of the coronavirus outbreak, and Gates' predictions highlight just how long this issue could carry on. If what Gates says is true, the travel industry could never again be the same as pre-coronavirus days. 

Now that most of the world has realized that working from home is possible, and fruitful, new working hours in offices as well as traveling for work will change dramatically. 

In a new podcast that Gates and Rashida Jones have started, Gates stated that he's had a "simpler schedule" as he's traveled less for business since the outbreak started, as CNBC reports.

In October, Microsoft announced its eligible employees could continue to work from home permanently, with the option to work from the office a few days a week, says CNET.

During Tuesday's conference, Gates said "We will go to the office somewhat, we’ll do some business travel, but dramatically less." He also stated that he's already held five roundtables this year, which would typically happen in-person in New York, reports CNBC.

Gates' predictions have a way of becoming a reality. Back in 2015, he stated that the world's next big disaster would not be a war, but on a microbial level. And earlier this year, Gates predicted that an outbreak of COVID-19's sort would occur every 20 years or so.