Since 2010, the number of passengers movements at Canberra Airport have dropped by 14 per cent, falling to about 2,858,000 in the past year.

In comparison, traffic across the rest of Australia has risen by 11 per cent over the same period, leaving Canberra as one of only two major airports to witness a decrease.

Canberra Airport managing director Stephen Byron attributed the big drop to federal public service cuts under the former Labor government and the current Liberal government.

"Put simply, [it is] less public sector travel and the flow on squeeze to the ACT economy of job cuts," he said.

"We have been taking steps to manage the volatility of the aviation business from day one when we bought Canberra Airport," he said.

"In particular, establishing vibrant commercial and retail precincts, the success of which has underpinned our ability to invest in the new terminal, building a new hotel and working hard to secure direct international flights."

Mr Byron asked the government to trust public servants to plan their own travel rather than placing unnecessary strictures on them.

Canberra Business Chamber chief executive Chris Faulks said given the reduced public sector spending on flights and meetings, it was important to focus on other initiatives to entice people to the capital.

She said it was important for the ACT government to focus on bringing direct international flights to Canberra and building the new convention centre.

"Unfortunately when the federal government is cutting back it does impact negatively on some of our facilities, like the airport," Ms Faulks said.

"We'd like to think that was temporary and when we get past this period, in fact, both domestic and international flights through Canberra will start to grow rapidly."

Visit Canberra director Ian Hill said tourist numbers had remained steady over the past five years, while international visitors had actually increased since 2009.

But he said it was a good reminder for low cost airlines that Canberra was a good market which was largely untapped.

"We've been in discussions with low-cost carriers and there is some interest," Mr Hill said.

"We'd be encouraging them to take this opportunity seriously.

"There's a lot going on in Canberra right now."