According to BCD Travel's latest Cities & Trends report, Singapore is the top destination for business travelers in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, overtaking rival Hong Kong.
Singapore's Changi Airport recorded approximately 86% of pre-pandemic passenger volumes in 2023, making it one of the region's busiest airports. Eight of the most traveled routes for business travelers in APAC include Singapore as either a destination or origin.
BCD Travel's flight transaction data shows that Singapore was the most visited country in APAC last year, surpassing China and Japan. This is supported by the popularity of routes departing from Singapore, making it a primary arrival destination for APAC flights. Its strategic location and extensive connectivity make Singapore a key hub for flight arrivals and stopovers in the region.
Singapore has overtaken other cities in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region as the top destination for business travel. This success can be attributed to extensive government support and strategic investments in the aviation and tourism sectors.
According to the BCD rankings, Singapore maintains its status as the leading APAC destination for hosting large meetings, conferences and exhibitions post-pandemic. Government support plays a critical role in enhancing the city's attractiveness for business travel.
Supporting factors include the $870 million OneAviation Support Package for the aviation industry in 2021, and the $300 million in assistance to help the tourism sector recover from the pandemic.
The ranking puts Singapore ahead of regional rivals Hong Kong and Bangkok, which ranked second and third, respectively. Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur round out the top five, followed by Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei, Jakarta and Manila in the top ten.
