FRANKFURT, Germany—Western Europe’s business travel spending is projected to increase to $211.2 billion USD in 2016 and top out at $225.6 billion USD in 2017, 6.3 percent and 6.8 percent growth respectively. Those figures are among the key findings in the most recent GBTA BTI Outlook—Western Europe report, conducted by the GBTA Foundation, the education and research arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), and sponsored by Visa.
“What’s most impressive about these results is that Europe has faced a seemingly endless array of challenges recently,” said Catherine McGavock, GBTA’s regional vice president—EMEA. “From the Greek debt crisis to the influx of Syrian refugees, terrorist attacks in several European capitals, and the pending U.K. referendum on possibly exiting the bloc, the business travel market has not only endured, but thrived—growing at a greater rate over the last year than many of the other large business travel markets across the globe.”
Business Travel Growth Seen in Northern and Southern Europe
Europe’s positive business travel growth will continue at a respectable rate, and that growth is not confined to the continent’s larger, northern economies. Europe’s southern tier is also faring better than expected with an improved outlook as consumer confidence returns and a favorable business climate promulgated by low interest rates and oil prices and rising demand and investment continue. Italy and Spain, for example, will see growth rates of 7.3 percent and 11.9 percent, respectively from 2015 to 2017.
A “Brexit” Effect?
On 23 June, U.K. voters will vote on whether or not to exit the European Union. Most polls show that the referendum will not pass and the U.K. will stay in the European Union. Even if voters in the U.K. do decide to vote for “Brexit,” given the overall size of the EU economy relative to U.K., it is likely that the fallout should be manageable for both sides. There are specific European countries that are very closely aligned with the U.K. economy, however, where the impact would be more significant, such as Ireland.
For individual business travelers, perhaps the biggest effect the Brexit would have is on the ease in which they could travel to and from the United Kingdom. As a European Union member, travel is currently unrestricted within the bloc making business travel across borders much easier than it had been previously. Perhaps the greatest risk of Brexit is the inspiration it may provide to other countries to test membership, calling into question the existence of the Union. The financial, economic and cultural upheaval from that extreme shift could be significant.
Despite the looming Brexit referendum, refugee crisis and continuing global economic uncertainty, Western Europe’s business travel market is robust—and serves as a harbinger of positive growth and more consumer and business confidence in the coming months and years ahead.
Country-Level Business Travel Outlooks
Germany—a $63.5 billion USD market—is leading the way, with business travel growth of 7.6 percent projected in 2016 and 9.3 percent growth in 2017. Spending on domestic business travel is increasing by 7.1 percent this year and projected to increase by 9.3 percent next year. International outbound business travel will grow 9.8 percent in 2016 and 9.5 percent in 2017. Domestic business travel accounts for 80 percent of all business travel in Germany.
The United Kingdom—a $47.1 billion USD market—is expected to grow at 7.9 percent in 2016 and 6.9 percent in 2017. Spending on domestic business travel will grow at 6.9 percent in 2016 and 5.8 percent in 2017, while international outbound travel will grow at 9.8 percent in 2016 and 8.9 percent in 2017. Domestic business travel accounts for 65 percent of all business travel in the United Kingdom.
France—a $37.1 billion USD market—is expected grow at 3.9 percent in 2016 and 5.8 percent in 2017. Spending on domestic business travel will grow at 3.0 percent this year and 5.7 percent next year, while international outbound travel will grow at 5.6 percent in 2016 and 6.1 percent in 2017. Domestic business travel accounts for 65 percent of all business travel in France.
Spain—a $19.4 billion USD market—is expected to grow at 6.5 percent in 2016 and 5.1 percent in 2017. Spending on domestic business travel will grow at 7.0 percent in 2016 and 4.3 percent in 2017, while international outbound travel will grow at 4.7 percent in 2016 and 7.9 percent in 2017. Domestic business travel accounts for almost 80 percent of all business travel in Spain.
Italy—a $31.6 billion USD market—is expected to grow at 3.6 percent in 2016 and 3.5 percent in 2017. Spending on domestic business travel will grow at 3.0 percent this year and 3.4 percent next year. International outbound travel will grow at 8.4 percent in 2016 and 4.4 percent in 2017. Domestic business travel accounts for almost 90 percent of all business travel in Italy.
