Brisbane councillors and employees have made more than 80 claims for overseas travel in the past six years, costing ratepayers more than $450,000.
Brisbane City Council's 2016-17 annual report revealed $82,602 was spent on overseas travel, an increase of 63 per cent on the previous financial year.
A council spokesman said the disparity between the overseas travel costs could be attributed to the 2016 Lord Mayor's Business Mission, which was not done in 2015.
A review of the past six annual reports revealed council staff went on a business mission in all years except 2015 and 2011.
The dramatic drop in travel expenses for these years coincided with the council election period.
Between the 2010-11 and 2016-17 financial years, $169,328 was spent on business missions as well as part of $30,348 spent in 2013-14 for three people, including the Lord Mayor, in a combined travel expense listed as the 2013 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Lord Mayor's Business Mission.
Cr Quirk said business missions were about attracting investment to Brisbane, growing the international student market and promoting the city as a great place to visit, live, work and do business.
"The flow-on economic development outcomes for the city represent an exceptional return on investment, last year's business mission has generated $270 million of investment in Brisbane," Cr Quirk said.
"It is our responsibility as Brisbane's local government to ensure that our city secures its fair share of business investment from the Asia-Pacific, to support economic development and local jobs now and into the future."
Council Opposition Leader Peter Cumming said he was "somewhat suspect" of the reduction in spending in the lead-up to elections.
"They do tend to scale it down in the run-up to the election," he said.
Cr Cumming said overall the amount spent on overseas travel was far too much.
The biggest spend in the last financial year was $49,411 on airfares and $18,629 on accommodation as council staff and councillors travelled to Korea, China, Japan, India, the US and New Zealand.
The remaining 2016-17 spend was allocated to personal allowances, travel doctors, taxi fares, visas, airport transfers, advance payments, luggage security wrapping, conference fees, passport fees, meals and public transport.
Council incurred a booking fee cost of $1606 after its chief executive, Colin Jensen, withdrew from attending the Water Edge Symposium in Auckland, New Zealand.
A council spokesman said the booking fee was credited for future travel.
