According to the Cities & Trend 2023 Asia Pacific Report by digital service provider BCD Travel, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok are the Asian cities most visited by business travellers from Asia Pacific (APAC). The intercontinental list is topped by Frankfurt, London and Amsterdam. The report is based on BCD's 2023 flight and rail data collected in a number of Asia Pacific markets.
Singapore is the clear leader in the APAC region. With government support, the city-state has regained its status as a major destination for meetings, incentives and conferences after the pandemic and now holds the position of the most important financial centre in the region, ahead of Hong Kong. Singapore is now the most important financial centre in Asia and the third largest in the world. In 2023, passenger traffic at Changi Airport will be around 86% of its pre-pandemic level. This is due to a strong recovery in air traffic in Northeast and Southeast Asia.
"According to the GBTA 2023 Business Travel Index, the APAC region will play a significant role in global business travel spend in 2024, accounting for 42% of total spend," said Greg O'Neil, President of Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Global Network at BCD. "APAC is one of the most diverse regions in the world. At BCD, we leverage technology and industry expertise to help business travellers and corporations manage the complexities of travel in APAC. We support our corporate clients by keeping them up to date with developments, advising on negotiations with suppliers, managing risk and providing travellers with tools they can use to travel effectively and safely."
Top 5 countries
Singapore was the most travelled country in APAC last year, followed by China. The recovery of international travel to and from China has lagged behind the recovery of the country's domestic travel industry, even after the end of the zero-covid policy. Domestic air travel is 17% above the 2019 level, while international air travel continues to recover only slowly. This is due to the lack of flights, high ticket prices and administrative hurdles in issuing visas.The United States is the most visited country worldwide by business travellers from APAC, followed by Germany. Four American cities are also among the top 10 in the intercontinental city rankings.
Top 10 business travel routes
The busiest flight routes in the APAC region mainly depart from Singapore, which occupies four places in the top 10 city connections. Hong Kong follows with two connections. The ten busiest arrival hubs for APAC routes are mainly located in Southeast Asia and North Asia, with Singapore being the most popular destination. Bangalore - Frankfurt leads the table for intercontinental routes. The most frequently flown routes for intercontinental flights mainly depart from Tokyo and Singapore and together occupy seven positions among the top 10 routes. The ten most popular arrival hubs for intercontinental routes are mainly dominated by European cities, with Frankfurt leading the way.
Rail travel popular in China
Rail is a popular mode of transport for domestic business travel in China and Japan. Unlike air travel, which requires lengthy check-in and security processes, rail travel offers fast boarding and disembarkation, which significantly reduces the overall journey time, especially for distances of up to 1,200 km.Train stations in both countries are usually located in city centres or business districts and offer short distances to the meeting location. Train tickets can also be cheaper than flights, especially when hidden costs such as transfers to and from airports and baggage fees are taken into account.
"Sustainability has become a top priority for companies as buyers and travel managers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of business travel," said Jonathan Kao, Managing Director of North Asia at BCD. "Chinese companies favour high-speed trains over air travel due to profitability, efficiency and comfort, especially for distances between 800 and 1,200 km. With the expansion of the rail network, rail travel will become more competitive with air travel."
You can find the full Cities & Trends 2023 Asia Pacific Report here. / red
