Key takeaways
- Business tourism is projected to reach a $2 trillion global market value by 2028, according to Allied Market Research.
- For every $1 spent on work travel, companies see an average return of $12.5 in revenue.
- The main types of business tourism include traditional business travel, incentive trips, and conferences/exhibitions.
- Bleisure travel—combining business trips with leisure activities—is increasingly common, with over 60% of business trips including personal time.
- Face-to-face interaction remains essential for building trust and driving productivity, even in the digital age.
What is business tourism?
- To participate in internal meetings at different office locations
- To meet business partners (clients or suppliers)
- To go to conferences, exhibitions, trade shows, and other local or international business events
- To take part in company retreats or incentive trips
Business tourism vs. leisure tourism
Aspect
Business tourism
Leisure tourism
Purpose
Work-related: meetings, conferences, client visits
Personal: relaxation, sightseeing, vacation
Funding
Typically company-paid
Self-funded or personal savings
Duration
Often shorter, schedule-driven
Flexible, based on personal preference
Activities
Presentations, networking, trade shows
Recreation, exploration, entertainment
Why is business tourism important?
- Better understand common goals, needs, and challenges
- Work together more efficiently
- Easily share knowledge and ideas
- Achieve important breakthroughs and solve problems faster
Key business tourism statistics
- $2 trillion: Projected global market value of business travel by 2028 (Allied Market Research, 2022)
- $12.5 return per $1 spent: Average ROI on work travel arrangements
- 60%+: Business trips that include leisure activities (Expedia Media Solutions, 2017)
- 60%: Employees who say the best way to learn on the job is to be around colleagues (Perk Survey, 2022)
- 68%: B2B marketers who say events are the most effective lead generation tactic (Marketing Charts, 2019)
- 43%: Workers who feel less stressed on business trips than working from home or the office (Perk Survey, 2022)
What are the different types of business tourism?
Traditional business traveling
Incentive trips
Conference and exhibitions
How has business tourism evolved over the years?
:format(webp))
See how to save money on business travel
Frequently asked questions
- Business tourism is the practice of traveling for work-related purposes, such as attending meetings, conferences, trade shows, or incentive trips. It can be domestic or international and is a major contributor to global economic growth.
- Business tourism is work-related travel typically funded by an employer, with activities like meetings and conferences. Leisure tourism is personal travel for relaxation or recreation, usually self-funded and with flexible schedules.
- The three main types are traditional business travel (meetings with colleagues or clients), incentive trips (reward-based vacations for employees or clients), and conferences/exhibitions (large-scale networking and industry events).
- Bleisure travel refers to business trips that are extended or combined with personal leisure activities, such as sightseeing or dining, before or after work commitments. It's an increasingly popular way for travelers to get more from their work trips.
- Business tourism enables face-to-face communication that builds trust and strengthens partnerships. It helps teams collaborate more efficiently, share knowledge, and generate new business opportunities that digital communication alone cannot achieve.
:format(webp))
:format(webp))
:format(webp))
:format(webp))