Importance Of Business Tourism

In recent years, business tourism has become increasingly prevalent and prevailing in the tourism industry. There are large quantities of significant changes which have far-reaching implications for all consumers and suppliers of business travel such as consumption patterns, great developments in transport and communications technology, and the world´s political and economic changes related to tourism industry. All these developments have brought large effects on business travel as well as the main challenges to this sector for the coming years. Every day, tens of thousands of people are beginning or ending their business trips all around the world, while numerous conferences or exhibitions are being held globally, so business tourism is a

As such it represents one of the oldest forms of tourism, man having travelled for this purpose of trade since very early times. (Davidson, 1994)

Business travel refers to travelers who regard business as the main purpose, leaving their permanent residence for other places to take part in some business activities or other activities. It is a more limited and focused concept than regular tourism. During business tourism, travelers are still working and being paid, but are doing so in an irregular place of work.

Business travel activities can be divided into two levels: primary activities and secondary activities. The former usually includes meetings, attending conferences and exhibitions, and the later refers to accommodation, catering, transportation, recreation for leisure activities and so on. To conclude, the primary activities are more important than the secondary ones as the main purpose of this travel is for business

It is not influenced by seasons, with high levels of activities in all year round, so the employment in this sector is rather stable.

3. The urban areas are regenerated because of investments on business tourism facilities.

4. Many investments for infrastructure construction in the destination primarily designed for the business tourists (hotels, restaurants, transportation…) provide economic profits, and they can also be enjoyed by local residents and leisure tourists.

5. The local culture and customs might attract the businessmen who are attending a conference in the city and give them a favorable experience, and then they are likely to establish their business operations there in the future. Thus business tourism can stimulate future investments for the destination.

6. As businessmen demand higher quality of service in the destination, suppliers are paying more attention to this issue, which could bring higher levels of job creation in turn.

7. According to the research of Conference Delegate Expenditure Survey in 1998, nearly 40%of business travelers will return to the destinations which they have enjoyed in their business trip before, with their family members as leisure