Disha Shah Ghosh - Mumbai The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is set to expand its footprint in the Asia Pacific region, with a particular focus on India, China, Japan, and Australia.
During her first-ever visit to India for the FCM Corporate Travel Summit, Elle Ng-Darmawan, Regional Director – APAC, GBTA, shared insights on the association’s plans, stating, “We are actively considering opening Chapters in India, China, Japan, and Australia to address the diverse dynamics in these key markets.”
Ng-Darmawan highlighted the goal of these chapters, saying, “Our aim is to foster community, learning and advocacy, to elevate the business travel experience in this vibrant region.” The intention is to collaborate closely with business travel professionals in these markets, fostering meaningful connections and collectively shape the on the future of business travel.
She underscored GBTA’s commitment to the Asia Pacific region, recognising it as the largest global hub for business travel movement. She stated, “We are committed to support education and continue to bring research insights from the GBTA Academy to share global insights, best practices to advance the region’s Business Travel landscape.”
Expressing confidence in India’s business travel potential, Ng-Darmawan stated, “As noted from GBTA’s outlook on India, India is currently ranked 9th among Top 10 markets globally for Business Travel spends and we expect India’s position to rise within the next 3 years.”
She attributed this positive outlook to India’s successful G20 Presidency in 2023, noting, “The world got a closer look at the preparedness of the destination to host large-scale events.” She cited examples such as the seamless passenger movement at Mumbai Airport, expanded airport capacity, contributing to advancements in infrastructure and connectivity to welcome global visitors.
As GBTA gears up to open country-specific chapters in Asia Pacific, the association aims to play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of business travel in India and other key Asia Pacific markets. Ng-Darmawan’s comments highlight the association’s commitment to support knowledge exchange, and enhance awareness of industry best practices in the world’s fastest growing region business travel.
