Brazil ranks first in business travel growth projections for 2026 among the sector’s 15 largest global markets. According to the 2026 Business Travel Index by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), spending related to professional travel is expected to rise by 13.8% in the country this year, reaching 35.8 billion dollars. This volume keeps Brazil in 10th place worldwide.
This increase comes in a global market that is itself growing. GBTA estimates that business travel spending will reach 1.71 trillion dollars in 2026, up 7.2%. The number of trips is growing much more slowly, by only 1.3%. Companies are therefore still traveling, but are selecting their trips more carefully, while higher transport and travel costs are pushing spending up faster than volumes.
An important signal for Brazil
This projection comes as Brazil is also progressing in congresses and international events. São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro remain the most visible cities in this segment, but activity is now distributed across a growing number of destinations.
The ICCA 2025 ranking places Brazil 13th worldwide for international events, two places higher than the previous year. The country now has 42 cities included in the ranking, compared with 26 in 2023. Brasília, Campinas, Belo Horizonte, Foz do Iguaçu, Salvador de Bahia and Manaus are among the best-positioned Brazilian destinations. This distribution makes it possible to envisage professional meetings in very different environments, well beyond the two main metropolises.
Business tourism beyond the meeting room
One of the interesting points in the report also concerns the level of spending by business travelers. According to data reported by Embratur, the average daily spending linked to a business trip reaches 875 dollars worldwide, while accommodation and air transport alone represent 52% of the total.
Brazil already has major airports, a substantial hotel offer and cities equipped with infrastructure capable of hosting events of very different sizes. In a market where companies are selecting their trips more carefully, this diversity becomes a central argument. It makes it possible to turn a professional appointment into a fuller stay, with working time, meetings, visits, cultural or gastronomic experiences, or even a few extra days on site.
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This expected growth in business travel also comes during a favorable year for Brazilian international tourism. In the first half of 2026, the country welcomed 5.26 million foreign visitors, the second-best performance ever recorded for this period. Their spending reached 5.6 billion dollars, up 12.14% compared with the first half of 2025.
The +13.8% forecast for business travel therefore adds another indicator to these results. If confirmed, Brazil will end 2026 with particularly strong growth in spending related to professional travel, while maintaining a high level of international arrivals. Two developments that mainly show the growing weight of tourism in the country’s economy.
Sources : Embratur| Global Business Travel Association | ICCA
Photos : Embratur | Quimbaya Latin America
