Singapore beats HK as top business destination

Here are the other hot spots in Asia for business travel.

According to Accor Asia-Pacific Business Traveller Research 2012, Singapore emerged as the destination most frequently travelled to for business in the first half of 2012 and appeared in the “Top 3” destinations from all key markets in the survey. Last year, Singapore and Hong Kong vied for top honours.

Here's more from Accor:

Singapore was the most visited destination for travellers from Indonesia (71%), Malaysia (61%), Thailand (37%) and India (31%). This pattern is expected to continue in the second half of 2012 – the city again appeared in all intended “Top 3” lists, with travellers from Indonesia (60%), Malaysia (57%), Thailand (40%), India (35%) and Australia (31%) identifying Singapore as their top most likely destination.

According to Evan Lewis, Vice President, Communications, Accor Asia-Pacific, “In this year’s survey, business travellers have told us that Singapore is their top destination in Asia-Pacific and that they expect to continue travelling here in the second half of the year. The findings underscore Singapore’s importance as business gateway to Southeast Asia.”

Thailand emerged as another key business destination in the first half, especially among Asian travellers. The kingdom is in the “Top 3” of travellers from Malaysia (49%), Singapore (47%), Hong Kong (32%), India (26%), China (20%) and Indonesia (20%).

For outbound travel, Singaporeans identified Malaysia (52%), Thailand (47%) and Indonesia (40%) as their top three destinations travelled to for business in the first half of 2012. Regionally, volumes increased an average of 60% in the first half of the year, while Singapore was the only market where travel volumes remained flat compared with the same period last year. This trend is expected to continue in the second half of 2012, with Singaporean business travellers expecting to travel the same as during the same period last year.  

The survey interviewed over 2,500 respondents from nine countries in Asia-Pacific, who made business trips in the first half of the year.