Conference Tourism Market Size, Share, Growth, Opportunities 2034

Conference Tourism Industry Perspective:

What will be the size of the global conference tourism market during the forecast period?

The global conference tourism market size was worth around USD 757.63 billion in 2024 and is predicted to grow to around USD 1,801.11 billion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 10.10% between 2025 and 2034.

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Key Insights:

• As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global conference tourism market is estimated to grow annually at a CAGR of around 10.10% over the forecast period (2025-2034)
• In terms of revenue, the global conference tourism market size was valued at around USD 757.63 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 1,801.11 billion by 2034.
• The conference tourism market is projected to grow at a significant rate due to the rapid globalization of business events and partnerships.
• Based on the service, the food & lodging segment is growing at a high rate and will continue to dominate the global market as per industry projections
• Based on the venue, the hotels & resorts segment is anticipated to command the largest market share
• Based on the event size, the large-scale segment is anticipated to lead the market growth trends
• Based on the location, the Local Meetings segment is anticipated to influence revenue in the market
• Based on region, North America is projected to dominate the global market during the forecast period

Conference Tourism Market: Overview

Conference tourism is a distinct form of travel that involves travelers attending regional or international business meetings and conferences. According to industry research, conference tourism is known to promote the local economy and turns over large sums of money through high-spending individuals. In addition, conference tourism promoted infrastructure development to meet the expectations of business delegations attending the conference from across the globe. There are 4 primary types of conference tourism: meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE). During the forecast period, the industry for conference tourism is expected to deliver exceptional results driven by the rising number of global business events being held across the globe.

In addition, government support and favorable policies will further aid market expansion in the long run. The integration of new technologies into the organization and conduct of conferences is expected to create growth opportunities for industry players. However, the high cost of investment and evolving geopolitical landscape may lead to the emergence of new market challenges in the coming years.

Conference Tourism Market: Dynamics

Growth Drivers

How will globalization impact revenue in the conference tourism market?

The global conference tourism market is expected to be driven by the rapid globalization of business events and partnerships. Companies across the globe are increasingly working toward expanding business presence to increase profit margins, target new consumer groups, and protect themselves against intense market competition or market saturation. Business conferences are a popular form of exploring new markets before making a final decision, allowing companies to make informed choices.

Additionally, they are essential for business networking and create ways for future strategic collaboration with other stakeholders. As per official findings, the US hosts more than 510,000 conventions and trade shows every year, resulting in millions of participants traveling to the country.

Rising demand for conventions in the healthcare and technology sectors is expected to influence industry revenue

Research suggests increased demand and investments in industry-specific conventions, especially in healthcare and technology. Networking and business collaboration in these industries are heavily influenced by in-person meetings due to market costs and technological sensitivities. For instance, 2026 is expected to witness the collaboration of the Healthcare Summit 2026 and the World Wellness Summit into an integrated experience. The Summit is expected to showcase digital health, medical innovation, clinical leadership, along with holistic care and longevity science.

On the other hand, advancements in modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, 5G, and 6G connectivity infrastructure, and cloud architecture are witnessing a surge in the number of trade fairs and conferences. October 2026 will witness the launch of AI & Big Data Expo Europe at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre. The convention will host major technology companies and will involve live demos with interactive exhibitions. Such projects are expected to boost revenue in the global conference tourism market during the projection period.

Restraints

Why will the high cost of the events limit the expansion of the conference tourism industry?

The global conference tourism industry is anticipated to be restricted due to the high cost of the events. Organizing conferences hosting delegations from across the globe requires extensive research and preparedness. For instance, the average cost of organizing a large-scale conference can cost between USD 500,000 and USD 4,000,000 or more. Additionally, the cost may grow higher in case of the use of advanced technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR).

Opportunities

Growing investments in environmentally conscious conferences to generate growth opportunities

The global conference tourism market is anticipated to generate growth opportunities due to the rising investments in environmentally friendly events. There is a growing demand for adopting sustainable practices such as digital initiatives, waste reduction, and venues that promote eco-friendliness. Research suggests that the incorporation of virtual and hybrid formats can reduce environmental impact by more than 94.01% in certain cases. Other practices include the use of recycled and recyclable materials and leveraging green materials for constructing conference infrastructure.

What are the growth possibilities in emerging markets for conference tourism industry players during the projection period?

Emerging markets such as African and Asian countries hold tremendous growth potential. These economies are witnessing rapid urbanization, industrialization, and infrastructure development. Additionally, increasing investments in promoting start-ups and the entrepreneurship ecosystem will further drive long-run market expansion. In 2025, the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) secured an investment of USD 15.3 billion to cover 39 upcoming projects. Similarly, Latin America is witnessing a surge in investments due to growing opportunities in the region.

Challenges

Growing geopolitical concerns will challenge the expansion of the conference tourism industry

The global conference tourism industry is anticipated to be challenged by the rising concerns over evolving geopolitical conditions. For instance, diplomatic tensions among major economies, including the US, China, India, and European countries, have significantly affected the management and organization of international business conferences.

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Conference Tourism Market: Report Scope

Conference Tourism Market: Segmentation

The global conference tourism market is segmented based on service, venue, event size, location, and region.

Which factors influence growth in the food & lodging segment in the conference tourism market?

Based on service, the global market segments are food & lodging, transportation, recreation, and others. In 2024, around 42% of the segmental revenue was listed in the food & lodging segment and is anticipated to deliver a CAGR of over 9.89% in the coming years. Food & lodging services are the basic requirements of all conferences, irrespective of scale, thus driving a higher growth rate in the segment.

Why do hotels & resorts lead the conference tourism industry revenue?

Based on venue, the global conference tourism industry is fragmented into hotels & resorts, convention centers, and others. The hotels & resorts segment accounted for over 43% of the global returns in 2024 and will deliver a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period. Hotels and resorts are preferred over other venues because they offer comfortable amenities, particularly for high-spending individuals and corporate management.

Why does the large-scale segment lead the conference tourism market at present?

Based on event size, the global market is fragmented into large-scale, medium-scale, and small-scale. The large-scale segment amounted to 60.01% of the global revenue in 2024  with an expected CAGR of 8.5% over the coming years. Growing government initiatives promoting large-scale conferences and trade fairs will help the industry deliver exceptional growth momentum during the projection period.

What are the reasons that drive demand in the local meeting segment in the conference tourism industry?

Based on location, the global industry segments are local meetings, national/regional conferences, and international conferences. Local meetings are the leading segment, accounting for 62.1% of global revenue and an expected CAGR of 7.05% in the coming years. Local events are held more frequently and are easier to manage. Furthermore, the growing integration of technologies into holding location events will increase revenue in the region.

Conference Tourism Market: Regional Analysis

Why does North America lead the conference tourism market?

The global conference tourism market is expected to be led by North America during the forecast period. The region accounted for nearly 38.01% of the global revenue, with an expected 9.81% in the coming years. North America holds thousands of technological and non-technological conventions every year, hosting millions of visitors from across the globe. In recent years, technology-related conventions have increased across North America. The region has a robust infrastructure supporting large-scale conventions. Furthermore, increasing adoption of digital technologies will help the regional players deliver improved performance in the coming years.

Which factors will help Asia-Pacific emerge as the fastest-growing region in the conference tourism market?

Asia-Pacific is anticipated to emerge as the fastest growing market with prominence over 27% of the global revenue and a CAGR of 9.89%. Rapid economic growth across major Asian countries, including China, India, and South Korea, will help the region sustain growth over the projection period. In recent years, government spending toward infrastructure development in Asian countries has increased, facilitating higher confidence among conference tourism organizers. Moreover, increasing research & development (R&D) across the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and automotive industries will drive greater demand for conference tourism during the projection period.

Conference Tourism Market: Competitive Analysis

The global conference tourism market is led by players like:

• IMC International
• American Express Meetings & Events
• CWT Meetings & Events
• Keynote Conferences
• Maritz Global Events
• Global Cynergies
• BCD Meetings & Events
• ATPI Ltd.
• Conference Direct
• Creative Group Inc.
• Conference Care Ltd.
• MCI Group
• 360 Destination Group
• Questex LLC
• Pico Global.

What are the key trends in the Conference Tourism Market?

Emergence of business leisure travel

This trend includes an integration of business travel and leisure activities. Employees extending work trips for personal vacation for sightseeing and exploring the local region have helped reshape the conference tourism sector.

Personalization

Over the years, conference tourism organizers have sought to offer personalized experiences to visitors through smart technologies and data analytics. Customized plans can offer greater revenue and overall impact.

The global conference tourism market is segmented as follows:

By Service

• Food & Lodging
• Transportation
• Recreation
• Others

By Venue

• Hotels & Resorts
• Convention Centers
• Others

By Event Size

• Large Scale
• Medium Scale
• Small Scale

By Location

• Local Meetings
• National/Regional Conferences
• International Conferences

By Region

• North America
  • The U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • France 
  • The UK
  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Southeast Asia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa