Singapore, Tokyo, and Hong Kong Lead as Top Business Travel Destinations in Asia Pacific for 2025, with Frankfurt, London, and San Francisco Dominating Intercontinental Routes

Published on March 20, 2025

Based on BCD Travel’s Cities & Trends 2025 Asia Pacific report, Singapore, Tokyo, and Hong Kong top the list of most-visited cities for business travelers in the region. On the intercontinental front, Frankfurt, London, and San Francisco lead the way. This data reflects the flight and rail activities of BCD clients in 2024 across various APAC markets.

Leading Cities

Singapore stands out due to its prime location and thriving economy, solidifying its dominance among business travelers. The city’s growth is fueled by policies like reciprocal visa-free agreements with Southeast Asian nations, increased flight capacity, and falling airfare costs. These factors, combined with the city’s business-friendly infrastructure, make it an ideal destination for meetings and events, with a 20% rise in visits compared to the previous year.

Tokyo rose to second place, marking a significant 38% jump, while Hong Kong and Bangkok held steady. Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei, and Jakarta also maintained their positions. Sydney, however, entered the top 10, landing at the tenth spot.

2024 ranking:

According to the Global Business Travel Association’s 2025 Business Travel Outlook Poll, APAC led global business travel spending growth in 2024, with 78% of buyers reporting more frequent travel compared to 2023, including 30% who saw a substantial increase.

Intercontinental Travel

In the intercontinental category, Europe and North America each claim five cities in the top 10, with Frankfurt, London, and San Francisco leading the rankings.

Leading Countries

BCD’s flight data reveals Singapore again tops the list of most-visited APAC countries, with China and Japan closely following. The U.S. remains the top destination for intercontinental travel, with no changes in the ranking from the previous year.

Popular Routes

For APAC flights, Singapore dominates the routes, with five city pairs in the top 10. In an interesting shift, the Shanghai to San Francisco route climbed from 17th to 10th position. Three of the top 10 intercontinental routes now originate from Bengaluru, with Bengaluru to Frankfurt leading the charge.

Cabin Class Preferences

The majority of APAC travelers (84%) opt for economy class, while around 15% book business class. For intercontinental flights, however, the split is even, with 45% flying in both business and economy classes.

Direct Flights and Layovers

Direct flights are the preferred choice for APAC travelers, making up 89% of all flights due to well-established domestic networks. On the other hand, only 25% of intercontinental flights from APAC are direct, likely due to long flight times and the absence of direct options for some destinations.

For layovers, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bangkok are the leading cities in the APAC region, while Dubai, Doha, and Frankfurt dominate for intercontinental layovers. These hubs offer excellent airport facilities and convenient connections for business travelers.

Rail Travel

China and Japan boast some of the world’s most impressive rail systems. Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains are renowned for their speed, reliability, and efficiency, offering travelers fast and convenient travel between major cities. The Chinese high-speed rail system mirrors this quality, with popular routes like Changsha-Shenzhen and Shanghai-Beijing offering cost-effective, speedy travel.

Sustainability is a key factor in business travel choices, with rail travel offering lower carbon emissions compared to air travel. Rail’s seamless city-center connections, punctuality, and eco-friendliness make it an attractive option for businesses aiming to meet sustainability targets without compromising on speed or comfort.