On September 23, Suzanne Neufang, CEO of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), delivered a keynote speech titled “Business Travel at an Inflection Point: The Economics, Outlook and Trends Shaping What's Next in APAC and Beyond” at TravelDaily’s Business Travel Conference. She shared GBTA’s latest global business travel data and industry insights.
Neufang said business travel remains resilient. Despite ongoing uncertainties stemming from the global economy, geopolitical developments, travel costs and airline capacity constraints, business travel continues to demonstrate its value. As companies reassess the importance of face-to-face interactions, customer relationships and business development, global business travel is expected to maintain its growth trajectory.
However, compared with the rapid rebound following the pandemic, future growth in business travel is expected to become more measured. Growth continues, but at a slower pace, with spending expected to outpace trip volume. This shift is one of the most significant trends shaping the global corporate travel market.
Global business travel spending is projected to exceed USD 1.7 trillion in 2026 and grow by around 6% in 2027, reaching approximately USD 1.8 trillion. By 2030, the number is expected to surpass USD 2 trillion.
Regionally, Asia Pacific is emerging as a key engine of global business travel growth.
The region currently accounts for around 40% of global business travel spending, making it the world’s largest regional market. In terms of trip volume, Asia Pacific also represents approximately 35% of global business travel, ranking first worldwide.
GBTA forecasts that business travel spending in Asia Pacific will grow by around 7.5% in 2026, significantly outpacing global growth. Although growth is expected to moderate slightly in 2027, the region is still projected to maintain an annual growth rate of more than 7%.
Among Asia Pacific markets, China plays a particularly important role.
China ranks as the world’s second-largest business travel market, with spending expected to grow by nearly 6% in 2026. The country currently accounts for around 60% of Asia Pacific’s business travel spending.
This makes China a critical market for understanding both global business travel trends and the growth outlook for Asia Pacific.
