Johor Bahru cheapest for business travel in Asia-Pac - ECA

Johor Bahru, Singapore's neighbouring city, is the cheapest location in Asia Pacific for business travel, according to findings released by ECA International's Daily Rates research.

The total cost of a typical business trip to Johor Bahru, excluding travel to and from the city, per day on average is US$174 (US$1=RM4.43).

It is the least expensive business travel location in ECA International's Asia-Pacific rankings this year, ranked 78th.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur is the only capital city ranked top-ten cheapest location for business travel in Asia, said ECA, the world's leading provider of data and software for management and assignment of employees around the world.

The annual report by ECA provided average costs for hotel accommodation, meals, drinks, laundry, taxi transport and daily essentials, and is largely useful for companies to determine daily expenses for staff's business travel.

"Hotel rates depressed in the past 12 months from the drop in oil and gas prices resulting in less frequent business travel to and within the country," said ECA International Regional Director for Asia Lee Quane.

"This has been further accentuated by the continued depreciation of the ringgit versus US dollar, leaving business travel costs in Malaysia low in comparison to elsewhere in the region," he said.

According to the ranking, excluding hotel costs, Johor Bahru remained cheapest in the region for business travelers, alongside Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, with Kuala Lumpur at 66th place.

Tokyo remained the most expensive business travel destination in Asia Pacific, excluding hotel costs, he added.-- Bernama