World enterprise journey will proceed at a gentle tempo in 2026, however with considerably extra warning, much less confidence and extra operational complexity than firstly of the yr.
That is evident from a brand new research by the World Enterprise Journey Affiliation (GBTA).
Organizations proceed to journey, spend and meet, however they accomplish that amid escalating battle, greater prices and rising disruption.
The shift is obvious throughout all areas, however is most pronounced in Europe, the place trade pessimism now outweighs optimism as broader geopolitical conflicts more and more form journey routes, safety issues and assembly decision-making worldwide.
Rising warning
The April GTBA Enterprise Journey Business Sentiment Survey displays the views of greater than 500 enterprise journey managers, journey suppliers and brokers worldwide.
“What we’re seeing shouldn’t be a broad retreat from enterprise journey, however a extra deliberate and thoroughly managed method to it. Organizations proceed to journey and meet – and innovate – however they accomplish that whereas adapting to rising prices, operational friction and escalating geopolitical tensions,” stated Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA.
“These pressures are altering how, the place and why firms now journey, making skilled enterprise journey professionals extra necessary than ever to maintain vacationers secure, handle danger and disruption and handle budgets so organizations and other people can proceed to attach and do enterprise.”
Geopolitical tensions at the moment are the dominant concern
In line with April survey respondents, geopolitical instability has change into the highest exterior danger impacting enterprise journey selections in 2026.
Practically eight in ten respondents (79 p.c) now cite geopolitical instability and battle as one of many high travel-related dangers, making it the highest trade concern globally.
The affect is particularly seen in Europe, the place greater than 9 in ten respondents (92 p.c) view geopolitics as a major danger, in comparison with 72 p.c in North America.
Confidence has been declining since January, particularly in Europe
General optimism within the sector has declined considerably because the begin of the yr.
Solely 41 p.c of all respondents worldwide say they’re optimistic in regards to the enterprise journey sector in 2026, down from 59 p.c in January.
On the identical time, the share expressing pessimism has virtually tripled, from 9 p.c in January to 24 p.c of respondents in April, possible reflecting elevated publicity to geopolitical instability, strain on journey affordability and general disruption.
Extra data
Go to GBTA Analysis for extra particulars and to entry the total outcomes of the April 2026 GBTA survey website.