The Global Business Travel Association’s (GBTA) latest Business Travel Index report shows Australia is one of the fastest growing markets for business travel.

Global business travel spending is forecast to reach a record $US1.71 trillion in 2026, with the number of business trips worldwide expected to surpass 1.84 billion, up 1.3 per cent year-on-year.

Asia and Europe accounted for the highest volumes, each approaching 600 million trips or more.

The top 15 markets account for $1.43 trillion, or 84 per cent. The two largest, the United States ($423 billion) and China ($403.7 billion), together represent about 48 per cent of total global spend. In terms of growth among the top 15 markets, Brazil (13.8 per cent), Australia (11.5 per cent), South Korea (11.3 per cent), Türkiye (10.9 per cent) and Japan (10 per cent) rank among the fastest rising.

The report also reveals that global business travel spending grew 8.4 per cent in 2025 to $1.59 trillion, outperforming last year’s forecast of 6.6 per cent growth.

AI and technology-related investment is emerging as a significant driver of business travel growth, particularly in North America and Asia Pacific. Investments such as digital infrastructure, data centers and enterprise technology deployment are fueling demand for project-based travel, customer engagement and cross-border collaboration.

GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang said: “The big story this year is that companies haven’t stepped away from travel, but they are increasingly more selective and productivity-focused.

“While business travel spending continues to grow, the number of trips is rising more slowly, making it necessary for all of us to assess industry and organisational impact. Travel remains essential, and companies are critically disciplined about where, how and why they travel.”

In May 2026, 4700 business travellers were surveyed across 66 global markets for the Business Travel Index report.

Results showed business travel remained resilient in 2025, and reveal a workforce that continues to travel regularly while adapting to higher costs, evolving travel programs and a more uncertain global environment.

Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of business travellers reported travelling as much or more than in previous years, led by Asia Pacific, where four in five (80 per cent) maintained or increased their travel activity.

Travellers remained cautiously optimistic, with 28 per cent expect to travel more in 2026 than they did in 2025.