This research identified that travel and in particular, air travel, has a wider benefit to trade and travel activity, supporting and even generating additional international trade. There is a causal relationship between travel and trade that is especially notable for business travel and face-to-face meetings help to support international relations between trading partners and within companies. In turn, this supports international sales and helps in the development of partnerships and new products.

The research  also found that the volume of trade supported by business travel was equivalent to 35% of global trade growth in the ten years to 2010. Similar analysis showed a similar proportion of trade was supported by travel in most world regions, including Asia.