Panoramic aerial view Statue of Liberty and Jersey City and Manhattan cityscape in New York City, NY, USAFrom Bengaluru to Berlin, Indian boardrooms are buzzing with global travel plans. As India’s economy grows and companies expand their global footprint, international business travel is back in full swing. SAP Concur’s 2025 Global Business Travel Survey found that 89% of business travelers, 93% of travel managers, and 90% of CFOs expect their organization’s travel budget to increase or hold steady this year. To understand where business leaders are headed, SAP Concur analyzed Concur Travel booking data from January 1 to June 30, 2025, and compared it with the same period in 2024.
Here’s what stood out:
- Global travel is on the rise: International business travel volume increased 2.6% in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024, with Q1 driving growth at 4.5% year over year. Q2 held steady with a 0.6% uptick.
- Airfare insights: U.S. travelers paid the most per international ticket at $2,675, reflecting longer-haul journeys. Japanese travelers averaged $1,950 per ticket, while Italian business travelers—mostly flying within Europe—spent just $719.
- Steady corridors: Canada–U.S. travel volume remained unchanged. Nearly 80% of Canadian business travelers continued to head south of the border, year over year.
Where is India travelling in 2025?
- United States
- United Arab Emirates
- Germany
- Singapore
- United Kingdom
- Thailand
- France
- Malaysia
- Qatar
- Netherlands
Key Takeaways:
- U.S. destinations represented 27% of all international travel volume from India in the first half of the year. In second place, U.A.E represented 9.5% and Germany came in third at 8.3%.
Business travel is firmly back on the agenda in 2025, with global hubs like the U.S., Germany, and the UK leading the way. Costs remain steady, and while Q1 continues to drive the bulk of activity, India’s growing global ambitions mean international travel is likely to stay strong through the year.
