Despite its slowest growth in nearly 25 years, China is expected to surpass the United States in business travel spending in 2016. Estimates are that China business travel will increase approximately 11% to $322 billion, as compared to a 3.7% increase to $303 billion for the U.S.
Increased consumption among China’s middle class and the spread of regional domestic flights have pushed the country’s business travel market to encompass a fifth of all global corporate travel spending. Domestic travel contributes more than 95% to China’s total business travel spending. By 2019, Chinese business travel spending is predicted to increase by 61% to $420 billion.