Singapore beats Bangkok, Tokyo to become top Asia-Pacific destination for business travelers

By Hoang Vu July 8, 2024 | 03:16 pm PT

A view of the skyline in Singapore, on Jan. 27, 2023. Photo by Reuters

Singapore was the most visited destination by business travelers in the Asia-Pacific region last year, followed by Hong Kong and Bangkok, according to a report by global travel management agency BCD Travel.

Tokyo came in fourth, followed by Kuala Lumpur, according to the report based on BCD's flight and rail data.

Rounding out the top 10 are Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei, Jakarta and Manila, respectively.

Singapore is "an accessible and convenient destination for business" with 2023 passenger volume at Changi Airport reaching about 86% of pre-pandemic levels.

The eight most traveled routes by business travelers in the region were flights to or from Singapore, the report says.

"The APAC region is set to play a significant role in global business travel spending this year, accounting for 42% of the total," said Greg O’Neil, BCD Travel’s President for Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and Global Network.

Singapore was recently named the second most expensive city in the world for foreigners after Hong Kong in this year's Cost of Living Survey, released by American consulting firm Mercer.