(Lebanon, NH – May 26, 2026) – Security extraction capabilities and real-time intelligence are emerging as foundational expectations among international travelers, according to new data from the Global Rescue Spring 2026 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. The findings reveal not only strong overall demand for security support, but also meaningful differences in how risk is perceived across genders and between US-based and non-US-based travelers.

More than three-quarters of respondents (77%) say security extraction services are either very important (44%) or important (33%) when traveling internationally. However, the intensity of that concern varies significantly. A majority of women (53%) rate extraction as very important, compared to just 38% of men — a nearly 15-point gap that underscores a higher level of risk sensitivity among female travelers.

Geographic differences are also notable. Half of non-US-based travelers (50%) consider extraction services very important, compared to 43% of US-based respondents, suggesting heightened awareness or exposure to travel risk outside the United States.

“Extraction is no longer viewed as an extreme or niche capability, it’s becoming a baseline expectation for serious international travelers,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies. “What’s particularly important is how clearly the data shows different traveler segments evaluating risk through different lenses.”

Access to real-time security intelligence is also a powerful enabler of travel. More than 81% of respondents say such intelligence would increase their willingness to travel to foreign or remote destinations, including 54% who say they would be very likely or 100% willing to travel with access to that information.

Women again show more sensitivity to risk mitigation tools: 25% say real-time intelligence would definitely increase their willingness to travel, compared to 21% of men. Non-US-based travelers are also more responsive, with 26% indicating “yes, 100%,” versus 21% of US-based respondents.

At the same time, women are more likely to express hesitation overall, with 20% saying they are not very likely to be influenced by real-time intelligence, compared to 14% of men—highlighting a more polarized risk posture.

Growing concerns about safety in international travel are already translating into action. Global Rescue reports a 30% increase in security membership purchases so far this year compared to the same period in 2025, underscoring rising demand for professional travel risk management services.

When ranking specific protections, travelers overwhelmingly prioritize outcomes over advisory services. Physical extraction in response to bodily threat ranks as the most important capability by a wide margin, with 62% selecting it as their top priority.

Other high-ranking services include:

  • Comprehensive kidnapping, extortion and violent crime support (47% most important)
  • Expert-led security incident response and negotiation (41%)
  • Security advisory services (33%)

Notably, traditional preparedness measures such as training rank lower, reinforcing that travelers place the highest value on immediate, decisive intervention during crises.

When asked what would most influence their decision to obtain security services, travelers point primarily to situational risk:

  • Traveling to a high-risk destination (31%) is the leading trigger, especially among non-US-based travelers (36% vs. 30% US-based)
  • Spikes in threats targeting foreigners (20%)
  • Destinations with inadequate emergency response infrastructure (17%)

“These triggers reinforce a key point: demand for security services is highly contextual,” Richards added. “It’s not just who the traveler is—it’s where they’re going and what’s happening on the ground in real time.”

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About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey
Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 1,200 current and former members between April 7–13, 2026. Respondents shared their attitudes, behaviors and preferences related to travel safety, technology and global mobility.

About Global Rescue

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue maintains exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. The company has provided medical and security support during every major global crisis over the past two decades.