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Marina Bay Sands, Singapore – Image Credit Unsplash
The BCD Travel’s Cities & Trends 2025 Asia Pacific report reveals Singapore, Tokyo, and Hong Kong as the most visited cities by APAC business travelers. Frankfurt, London, and San Francisco lead the intercontinental list.
According to BCD Travel’s Cities & Trends 2025 Asia Pacific report, Singapore, Tokyo, and Hong Kong are the most visited by business travelers in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Frankfurt, London, and San Francisco lead the intercontinental list.
Singapore’s strategic location and robust economy contribute significantly to its popularity among business travelers. Visa-free policies with other Southeast Asian countries, increased flight seat capacity, and reduced flight fares have facilitated Singapore’s steady growth. These factors, along with a pro-business infrastructure, make this city-state a preferred destination for business travelers and attendees of meetings and events.
Tokyo has seen a 38% increase in visits, securing the second spot, followed by Hong Kong and Bangkok. The other cities in the top 10 are Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei, Jakarta, and Sydney.
The Global Business Travel Association’s first Business Travel Outlook Poll of 2025 indicates APAC’s leadership in global business travel spend growth. More than three-quarters (78%) of buyers from this region reported a higher volume of trips compared to 2023, including 30% who saw a significant increase.
For intercontinental cities, the list is split between Europe and North America, led by Frankfurt, London, and San Francisco.
According to BCD flight data, Singapore was the most visited APAC country, followed by China and Japan. The top five intercontinental countries remained the same from the previous year, with the U.S. leading.
The most frequently traveled routes for APAC flights primarily depart from Singapore. In contrast, for intercontinental routes, Shanghai to San Francisco moved up to No.10 from its previous position as No.17.
For APAC flights, most travelers (84%) booked economy class, while for intercontinental flights, the figures were split, with 45% booking business class and 45% booking economy.
Most APAC flights are direct (89%) due to well-connected route networks within countries. However, only 25% of intercontinental travel from APAC is direct, possibly due to flight times, high costs, or the lack of direct flights.
Due to its efficiency, quality, and extensive routes, high-speed rail is also a significant part of business travel in Japan and China. Its ability to reduce environmental impact while maintaining speed and convenience aligns it with corporate environmental, social, and governance goals.
Business travel has re-emerged strongly, with APAC continually expanding as one of the world’s most dynamic and competitive global trade and travel markets. The changes in remote work policies, increased use of AI and digital transformative technology, geopolitical conflicts, environmental change, and the intertwining of travel and meetings have all contributed to increased business travel.
