Business travel to bounce back in 2013, says GBTA
International business travel from the UK will fall this year, but it is expected to make a full recovery in 2013, according to latest forecasts from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).
Debt troubles in southern Europe will more than offset any benefit that British travellers will gain in purchasing power in the eurozone from the relative strength of sterling, it said, leading to a 2.8% drop in overseas travel spend this year.
Its inaugural annual Business Travel Index Outlook – Western Europe economic analysis, found that overall spending in the three major economies of the UK, Germany and France would be almost flat this year.
The UK is forecast to grow only 0.7%, with a 2.7% rise in domestic business travel spend but a 2.8% fall in international outbound spending.
GBTA executive director and chief operating officer Michael McCormick said: "We found that economic growth across Europe will be constrained in 2012 with weakness in the first half giving way to improving prospects later in the year.
"Increasing economic growth in Germany, France and the UK will be offset by declines in many Southern European economies. Business travel is a leading indicator of the economy, so we’re expecting a challenging scenario over the next year."
However, the GBTA expects business travel spend in the UK to be up 4% to $42.1bn (£27.1bn) in 2013, with spending on domestic travel rising 5% and spending on international travel up 2%.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
U.S.A. and Israel attacks on Iran impact air movements in the Gulf (Update 1.00pm CET)
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Marginal increase for New York City tourism in 2025