Singapore leads South and Southeast Asia in business travel demand

The Asia-Pacific business travel market overall is projected to reach $679b by the end of 2025.

Singapore has emerged as the largest business travel market in South and Southeast Asia, accounting for 22% of regional demand in the first half of 2025, according to new data released by Tumodo.

India followed with a 20% share, whilst Thailand ranked third at 15%. Indonesia (13%), Malaysia (10%), Vietnam (8%), the Philippines (7%), and Bangladesh and other markets (5%) made up the remainder of the regional market.

The Asia-Pacific business travel market overall is projected to reach $679b by the end of 2025, supported by longer, higher-value corporate trips, rapid adoption of AI-powered booking platforms, and growing emphasis on sustainability.

Globally, corporate travel spending is forecast to rise 10.8% to $1.64t in 2025, up from $1.48t in 2024.

Key regional travel corridors included Kuala Lumpur–Singapore, Bangkok–Singapore, Denpasar–Singapore, and Manila–Singapore, reflecting Singapore’s role as a strategic hub for finance, technology, and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions).

Other busy international routes such as Bangkok–Seoul and Bangkok–Hong Kong strengthened cross-border trade and financial links. Singapore, Bangkok, and Dubai remained the leading gateways for regional and intercontinental business travel.

Pricing trends in H1 2025 showed mixed dynamics. Global airfares fell by 1.8% compared to 2024, with long-haul US–Asia routes down 11% due to lower fuel costs and competition from low-cost carriers.

By contrast, accommodation costs in Asia-Pacific rose by 3–5%, with luxury hotel rates in Singapore and Bangkok climbing as much as 6.5%.