Outbound corporate travel from India presents potential for international tourism destinations as companies operate outside India through conference and meeting participation in the Gulf and Southeast Asian regions. On the other hand, the expanding international presence of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) allows qualifying Indian tourists more options to make payments at merchant locations abroad by utilising payment applications tied to their bank accounts in India. Both trends meet in MICE events, where business activities are accompanied by lodging, dining, shopping, and experiencing the destination in general. According to government tourism statistics, 32.83 million trips made by Indians were noted in 2025, with an increase of 6.3% year-on-year. It reflects outbound travel for various reasons, not only business trips.
Corporate Travel Supports Demand Across International Destinations
Indian companies maintain business links across the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Singapore and other international markets. These connections generate travel for commercial negotiations, technology conferences, manufacturing partnerships, investment meetings and trade exhibitions.
Business travellers often require accommodation near conference venues, commercial districts and industrial centres. Hotels with meeting facilities, reliable internet, airport transfers and flexible booking arrangements can serve these needs, while serviced apartments may suit employees staying abroad for longer assignments.
MICE travel also creates opportunities to extend business itineraries. Delegates attending conferences can add leisure days to explore local attractions, visit restaurants or take short excursions, subject to their schedules and budgets.
The Gulf attracts Indian professionals travelling for commercial meetings, energy-sector events, trade and investment activities. Singapore serves as a regional business and financial centre, while Cambodia is developing connections with international markets through trade, manufacturing and tourism.
For destination marketing organisations, these travellers represent a market that extends beyond conventional leisure tourism. Corporate visitors can generate demand for accommodation, transport, restaurants, event venues and cultural experiences throughout the year.
UPI Expands Its International Merchant Payment Network
India’s UPI system enables users to make digital payments through participating applications, and its international acceptance network has expanded to selected markets. The National Payments Corporation of India and its international subsidiary have established arrangements with payment partners that allow eligible users to scan supported merchant QR codes and pay from linked Indian bank accounts.
The service is available in markets including the UAE, Qatar, Singapore and Cambodia, subject to the participating payment network, merchant acceptance and the user’s bank and application.
For travellers, this can provide an alternative to carrying cash or relying exclusively on international payment cards. A visitor may use a supported application to pay a participating restaurant, retailer or other merchant, provided the transaction is enabled for that location.
However, international UPI acceptance is not universal. Travellers should check whether their bank and payment application support international transactions, look for recognised acceptance signage and review the displayed exchange rate and applicable charges before authorising a payment.
What UPI Means for Corporate Travellers
Digital payment access can simplify certain everyday expenses during overseas business trips. Eligible users may be able to pay for meals, retail purchases and other services at participating merchants without exchanging cash for every transaction.
The distinction between merchant payments and corporate settlements is important. International UPI acceptance does not mean every company can pay overseas suppliers directly from a corporate account through any UPI application. Access depends on the account type, bank arrangements, application rules and the specific payment service available.
Companies arranging international travel should continue to follow their internal expense policies, including requirements for receipts, approved payment methods and transaction records. Employees should also check whether their corporate banking arrangements permit the intended payment.
For larger business expenses, supplier invoices and formal commercial settlements, companies may need to use established banking or payment channels rather than assume that a merchant QR payment service is suitable.
The UAE, Qatar and Southeast Asia Offer Different Travel Opportunities
The UAE remains a significant destination for Indian business and leisure travellers, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi hosting commercial events, exhibitions, hospitality businesses and cultural attractions. International visitors can combine meetings with visits to museums, waterfront districts and shopping destinations.
Qatar provides another market for corporate travel, with Doha serving as a centre for business events, international conferences and cultural tourism. Eligible UPI users may encounter participating merchant payment services, although availability should be verified before departure.
Singapore combines a major business-event calendar with visitor attractions such as Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay and its established food districts. Cambodia offers a different travel proposition, including Phnom Penh’s urban attractions and Siem Reap’s access to the Angkor archaeological complex.
The availability of UPI payments does not determine whether a destination is suitable for business travel, but it can add convenience for travellers visiting participating merchants.
Planning International Business Trips
Indian tourists must make sure that they have arranged for their visas, flight schedule, place of stay and availability of payment facility before they depart. Tourists who are going to attend seminars/conferences must ensure that there are no missed registration deadlines and that the places where the conference will be held and the place of stay coincide. For any UPI transaction overseas, the traveller must enable international usage of UPI wherever needed, know the terms of his/her bank regarding the same and keep another option for payments. Even mobile availability and access to the application can be a factor in making payments. The increasing outbound tourism from India and international use of UPI are developing side by side.
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