Top Destinations for International Business Travel in 2025

There are many questions about how current events are affecting global travel. At SAP Concur, we had the same question, especially after our 2025 Global Business Travel Survey revealed that 89% of business travelers, 93% of travel managers, and 90% of CFOs expect their organization’s travel budget to increase or stay the same this year. To investigate, we turned to Concur Travel data.

SAP Concur analyzed international air travel bookings in Concur Travel between January 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025, and compared destinations, airfare, and overall travel volume to 2024 bookings during the same period. We found:  

• International business travel volume was up, increasing 2.6% globally in the first half of 2025 compared to the first half of 2024. Looking closer, volume increased 4.5% year over year in Q1 and 0.6% year over year in Q2.
• Business travelers from the U.S. paid the most for international flights, paying $2,675 per ticket on average. These travelers often fly great distances for international travel instead of to nearby countries. Similarly, business travelers from Japan paid about $1,950 per ticket. In comparison, Italian travelers average airfare was $719, with their main destinations being nearby in Europe.
• International business travel volume between Canada and the U.S. didn’t change in the first half of this year. Nearly 80% of Canada’s business travelers landed in the U.S and that number has remained consistent year-over-year.

Now, a deeper look at the top international business travel destinations globally, from the U.S., and from Canada.

Where the World Is Traveling for Business in 2025

2025 Top International Travel Destinations Globally

1. U.S.
2. Germany
3. UK
4. Canada
5. France
6. Spain
7. Netherlands
8. Mexico
9. China
10. Italy

Takeaways:

• The U.S. is the top destination for international business travelers worldwide: U.S. destinations accounted for 15.3% of all international business trips in the first half of this year. Travel to Germany and the UK, in the second and third spots, made up 7.7% and 7.6%, respectively, by comparison.
• Q1 continues to anchor annual travel volume: While global volume rose 2.6% year over year, Q2 travel declined 8.4% compared to Q1. The first quarter of the year is historically the busiest quarter for business travel so a decline in Q2 is not surprising.
• Airfares are steady despite global shifts: Average international ticket prices held relatively flat across 2024 and into 2025. After peaking at $1,688 in Q1 2024, the average ticket price landed at $1,681 and $1,684 in the first two quarters of 2025, signaling pricing stability even amid rising demand.

U.S. Business Travelers Are Flying Less But Paying More

2025 Top International Travel Destinations from the U.S.

1. Canada
2. UK
3. Mexico
4. Germany
5. France
6. Japan
7. Netherlands
8. India
9. Spain
10. China

Takeaways:

• North American ties remain strong: Canada topped the list for U.S.-based business travelers, accounting for 13.4% of all international trips in the first half of the year. The UK (11%) and Mexico (7.8%) followed, underscoring continued demand for travel to strategic partners and nearby markets.
• Momentum slows slightly: International travel from the U.S. dipped 2.3% year over year in H1 2025. Q1 saw a modest 1% decline year over year, but volume dropped more sharply in Q2 (–3.8%), which is consistent with seasonal trends.
• Airfare climbs despite lower volume: Average ticket prices for international flights rose compared to last year, increasing $83 in Q1 and $35 in Q2. U.S. business travelers paid an average of $2,718 per ticket in Q1, which is the highest of any major market.

Canada–U.S. Corridor Remains the Power Lane for Business Travel

2025 Top International Travel Destinations from Canada

1. U.S.
2. UK
3. Germany
4. France
5. Mexico
6. Netherlands
7. India
8. Spain
9. Switzerland
10. Brazil

Takeaways:

• The U.S. continues to dominate Canada’s international business travel patterns: The U.S. accounted for a commanding 78.6% of all international business trips from Canada in the first half of 2025. The UK (2.8%) and Germany (2.3%) followed distantly.
• Growth slows after early gains: Overall international volume from Canada rose just 0.18% compared to H1 2024. Looking closer, volume increased 3.5% year over year in Q1 but declined 3.6% year over year in Q2
• Airfare stable, with early-year savings: Ticket prices have remained relatively flat year over year. Notably, Q1 2025 saw a dip in average fares to $997, down from $1,096 in Q1 2024, before returning to familiar levels around $1,100 in Q2.

Concur Travel data revealed that international business travel for the first half of the year, compared to the same period last year, was business as usual.

“While we continue to track emerging trends through our market-leading booking platform, and one thing is clear: Business travelers are back in motion,” said Charlie Sultan, president of Concur Travel at SAP Concur. “Encouragingly, 94% of them say business travel is either helpful or essential to succeed in their role. That’s a powerful signal that travel remains a key driver of business performance.”