(Lebanon, N.H — February 23, 2026) – International travelers entering 2026 are most concerned about personal health emergencies and flight disruptions, according to the Global Rescue Winter 2026 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. While concerns vary by gender and geography, illness or injury and flight cancellations clearly dominate travelers’ risk perceptions and trip-killing frustrations.

Overall, 31% of the world’s most experienced travelers say having an illness or injury abroad is their biggest disruption concern in 2026, making it the top worry by a wide margin. Civil unrest or terrorism ranks second at 21%, followed by losing a passport, credit cards or wallet at 12% and war, kidnapping and natural disasters at (6%) rounding out the leading concerns.

While men and women share similar levels of concern about the risk of illness or injury during international travel (31%), they show meaningful differences in other perceived risks. Men are twice as concerned about kidnapping and involuntary detainment compared to women (6% vs. 3%). Women express higher concern than men about civil unrest and terrorism (27% vs. 20%) and war (8% vs. 4%).

Geography also shapes traveler anxiety. Non-US survey respondents are significantly more concerned about civil unrest or terrorism than their US counterparts (27% vs. 21%). Non-US respondents are also more likely to cite war as their top concern (8% vs. 4%).

“When travelers think about international risk, it’s not abstract geopolitics alone,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the US Department of Commerce. “Health emergencies, instability on the ground and the ability to get home when things go wrong are driving real concern, especially as global conditions remain unpredictable.”

Flight Disruptions Dominate Trip-Killer Fears

When asked what travel characteristic is most likely to ruin a trip, travelers overwhelmingly point to flight cancellations. Overall, 35% say canceled flights are the single biggest trip-killer, far outpacing all other factors.

Bad weather ranks second at 15%, followed by poor planning or lack of research (13%) and over-ambitious itineraries (12%). These findings underscore that operational and planning failures are more damaging to traveler satisfaction than interpersonal or cultural challenges like feeling isolated, cultural misunderstandings and communication breakdowns.

Gender differences again emerge. Men are more likely than women to cite poor planning as a trip-killer (13% vs. 9%). Men are slightly more concerned about trip ruination due to over-ambitious itineraries than women (13% vs. 10%). Women report higher sensitivity to overpacking as a trip trap compared to men (5% vs. 2%).

US and non-US travelers share similar frustration with flight cancellations, but non-US respondents are twice as likely to identify poor planning while traveling as a trip-killer (20% vs. 11%). US respondents reported over-ambitious itineraries nearly twice are frequently as a leading trip-disrupter compared to non-US respondents (14% vs. 8%).

“Travelers can accept inconvenience, but they struggle with uncertainty,” Richards said. “Flight cancellations, weather disruptions and poor planning create cascading problems that undermine confidence and enjoyment. That’s why preparation, flexibility and access to expert support matter more than ever.”

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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 1,400 current and former members between January 13 – 17, 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.