Tunisia, Egypt, Libya. Political unrest has swept through parts of North Africa and the Middle East in recent months, shaking political regimes and stoking an already volatile environment that's increased the risk of travel in that region. Businesses have had to think twice about whether to send employees to those locations and several companies have had to cancel travel plans altogether.

The tensions in the Middle East have served as a reminder of just how risky business travel can be. In a foreign country, far from home, business travelers are vulnerable if there's a political crisis or a medical emergency.

As the economy grows ever more global and interconnected, however, the risk is increasing as businesses send people into countries that are often remote and politically unstable. More than 6.4 million U.S. business travelers took trips outside North America in 2009, according to a report from the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries. Many still go to Western Europe on business, but a large number also are heading to Asia, the Middle East and South America.