Business travel spend in the UK will remain flat for 2012 but will pick up in 2013 with a 2.8 per cent increase, according to the Global Business Travel Association’s (GBTA) latest report.

The GBTA’s BTI Outlook forecasted that international outbound travel from the UK will fall 3.1 per cent this year and domestic travel will grow just 1.6 per cent. Moving into 2013, however, domestic business travel will rise 2.3 per cent and international outbound spend will increase by 3.9 per cent.

The report also found that the “weak European economy and the crowding out effects of the London Olympics” led to business travel spend losses in both quarter two and quarter three of 2012.

Despite figures remaining flat for 2012, the report highlighted that the UK had the second highest level of spending on business travel in Western Europe with a spend of $40.2bn (£24.8bn). Germany came out on top with a spend of $50.8bn (£31.4bn).

With Italy and Spain expected to remain in recession until 2014, Europe as a whole will see business travel spend fall 2.2 per cent in 2012, but it will bounce back in 2013.

Paul Tilstone, managing director of GBTA Europe, explained: “With lingering debt and continued austerity measures, the European economy will likely continue to be challenged for years to come. The GBTA’s fall report therefore remains cautious, with overall business travel spend forecast to increase by 1.4 per cent in Western Europe in 2013.”