SA company journey set for main 2026 rebound – Gadget

Africa is experiencing renewed momentum for company journey. Nearly half (46%) of shoppers in EMEA point out plans to extend their journey spend within the 2026 monetary 12 months.

This is revealed in Flight Centre Travel Group’s (FCTG) company annual international State of the Market survey.

The 46% determine is a big rise from 2024’s 39%, reflecting rising confidence amongst companies as financial headwinds start to ease.

Notably solely 7% of respondents within the area now anticipate lowering their journey budgets, a dramatic fall from 21% final 12 months. This sign enterprise journey is being prioritised as a strategic lever for progress.

The constructive outlook comes as latest rate of interest decreases sign bettering macroeconomic circumstances and renewed optimism amongst corporates throughout southern Africa.

“These global results are particularly encouraging for the South African market where we’re seeing strong momentum,” says Mummy Mafojane, FCM Travel Southern Africa GM.

“Companies are recognising that business travel is essential infrastructure for growth, not just an expense. Our recent launch of FCM Meetings and Events in South Africa has already captured significant interest from mining and financial services sectors who understand that face-to-face engagement drives real business outcomes.”

Herman Heunes, Corporate Traveller South Africa GM, says the findings validated what his group was seeing on the bottom with SA SMEs and mid-market firms.

He says: “The survey results confirm that sentiment is shifting – companies are ready to back growth with increased travel budgets. We’re seeing dynamic South African businesses who view travel as a strategic investment rather than a cost centre. Our rebrand in the last financial year has really helped us connect with this new generation of businesses who appreciate our modern identity and approach.”

Globally, for flagship companies FCM Travel and Corporate Traveller, 9% of shoppers surveyed intend to spend over 20% extra on their journey, 36% plan to extend by as much as 20% extra, and 37% consider the quantity spent will likely be much like final 12 months.

The findings follow the release of end-of-financial-year results to the Australian Securities Exchange. The outcomes confirmed that FCTG achieved a file whole transaction worth (TTV) of AUD$24.5-billion, up 3% year-on-year (YOY) in a difficult international buying and selling cycle, and an AUD$289.1-million underlying revenue earlier than tax, on the midpoint of the lately revised vary.

The company enterprise once more delivered a file whole turnover (TTV) of AUD$12.3-billion, up 2% YOY, with FCM Travel securing a big pipeline of recent accounts, increasing addressable markets, and set to profit from trade consolidation. Corporate Traveller is ready to turn out to be a AUD$5-billion-per-year TTV enterprise.

Chris Galanty, FCTG Global Corporate CEO, says: “There’s no query company journey is deemed to be a non-discretionary spend for companies as a crucial side to surviving and thriving worldwide – that is now evidenced by a big share of our clients planning to extend their journey spend in FY26.

“These figures paint a constructive image for the world of enterprise journey within the new monetary 12 months. Significant know-how developments in AI by way of our Centre of Excellence, mixed with an uplift within the utilisation of FCM Platform and the Corporate Traveller Technology Suite, have enabled us to automate the strange, permitting us to offer our clients with the extraordinary.

“Companies, whether they be large multi-nationals, SMEs or start-up businesses, are vital to economies across the globe, and it’s with great pride that we get to deliver our unique blend of the expertise of our people and our innovative technology to service them in their aspirations.”

Steve Norris, FCTG MD EMEA, says: “Productivity has jumped in many areas, and our focus on living by our ingrained Family, Village, Tribe structure means our subject matter experts are more empowered to make much quicker decisions – allowing them to shine alongside our FCM Platform and Corporate Traveller Technology Suite.”

Heunes stated Corporate Traveller is constantly advancing its know-how in South Africa to assist journey managers work extra effectively and serve clients higher. He stated: “As a result, our team can focus on what they do best: providing service of the highest standard.”

With enterprise sentiment rising throughout southern Africa and enhanced know-how platforms streamlining complicated journey preparations, trade analysts anticipate the company journey restoration to speed up by way of 2026’s monetary 12 months, probably reshaping how companies method regional enlargement and worldwide partnerships.