India’s business travel market is projected to grow 15.5% in 2025, far outpacing global trends, according to a new GBTA–Visa study. The report highlights rapid travel expansion, major gaps in corporate payment adoption, strong digitization trends, and rising local autonomy among Indian travel teams. Key insights spotlight opportunities for smarter travel management and cost control.
India’s Business Travel Market Set for 15.5% Growth in 2025, GBTA–Visa Study Reveals Major Gaps in Corporate Travel Programmes
India’s business travel market is accelerating faster than almost every major region worldwide, with fresh data showing a dramatic rise in travel demand and a parallel need for stronger corporate travel management systems. A new benchmarking report—the 2025 India Business Travel and Payments Study—released by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) in partnership with Visa, outlines how organizations can modernize their travel processes, cost controls and payment practices in India’s booming business landscape.
According to the study, India’s business travel spend reached $37.2 billion in 2024 and is forecast to grow 15.5% in 2025, more than double the global growth rate of 6.6%. As companies expand domestic and international travel, the demand for efficient corporate travel programmes, digital payment systems and compliance frameworks is higher than ever.
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India’s Business Travel Demand Surges, but Maturity Gaps Remain
The study reveals that 69% of Indian travel buyers reported an increase in domestic travel, while 68% saw higher outbound international travel within their organisations. This surge reinforces India’s growing importance as a global corporate travel hub.
However, market maturity has not kept pace with travel volume. While 77% of respondents rate their travel programme maturity at 7 out of 10 or higher, only 38% consider their systems top-tier (9 or 10), suggesting significant room for improvement in policy compliance, payment governance and automation.
Elle Ng-Darmawan, Regional Director, APAC for GBTA, noted that India is “quickly ascending the ranks of the world’s largest business travel markets,” stressing the urgency for modernized travel processes.
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Corporate Payment Adoption Remains Inconsistent Across India
One of the most striking findings is the uneven adoption of corporate payment tools across companies. Despite the rapid rise in India’s business travel expenditure:
- 30% of organisations use no corporate payment method for travel
- 51% use corporate cards
- 30% rely on Central Travel Accounts (CTAs)
- 7% use virtual card numbers
- 7% use prepaid cards
Travel buyers frequently cite limited merchant acceptance and non-issuance of corporate cards as the main barriers to compliance with travel payment policies. Visa’s Ravi Sattavan emphasized that digital payments and real-time spend visibility are now essential for cost control and operational transparency as travel volumes grow.
Technology Adoption Strengthens India’s Corporate Travel Ecosystem
Despite India’s long-standing reliance on assisted, offline bookings, the report shows strong digital transformation:
- 76% adopt self-service Online Booking Engines (OBEs)
- 91% use expense management systems
- 63% leverage traveler-tracking and risk-management technologies
This shift demonstrates India’s rapid movement toward enterprise travel digitization and automation—core elements of modern global travel programmes.
Local Teams in India Gaining Greater Autonomy and Responsibility
The study highlights the growing strategic role of India-based travel teams within multinational organizations:
- 55% say India teams manage in-country travel independently
- Only 41% report shared responsibility with global offices
- 72% say the same staff members manage both travel and payment decisions
- 42% state that travel teams hold primary responsibility for corporate payment product selection
This reinforces the importance of local expertise in navigating India-specific regulatory, operational and compliance requirements.
Why India’s Business Travel Evolution Matters
As India continues to emerge as one of the world’s fastest-growing corporate travel markets, the GBTA–Visa study provides a roadmap for organizations to strengthen governance, boost compliance, enhance digital payment adoption and modernize travel management frameworks.
The findings were unveiled at the inaugural GBTA India Business Travel Summit, underscoring growing industry collaboration and the rising need for India-focused corporate travel strategies.
Key Takeaways
- India’s business travel market is projected to grow 15.5% in 2025, far exceeding the global average.
- Corporate payment adoption lags behind travel growth, posing compliance and cost-control challenges.
- India shows strong digital adoption in booking, expense, and risk-management tools.
- Local Indian travel teams are playing a larger strategic role in multinational organisations.
- Companies must modernize payment systems and processes to keep pace with India’s rapid business travel expansion.