Article Highlights:

  • 78% of travelers remain concerned about regional safety despite the ceasefire.
  • Only 7% have canceled their travel plans, but 42% are actively avoiding specific countries.
  • Women are twice as likely as men to report being “very concerned” about safety.
  • Security membership purchases jumped 41% during the ceasefire week.
  • US and non-US travelers show nearly identical concern levels for travel for the balance of 2025.

 


 

Despite the recent ceasefire between Israel and Iran, international travelers remain cautious about visiting nearby regions, including the Middle East, the Mediterranean and parts of Europe. According to the Global Rescue Summer 2025 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey, the majority of travelers are still weighing geopolitical risks when making travel decisions.

The survey reveals that 78% of respondents remain concerned about how the conflict, despite its current pause, could impact safety and accessibility through the remainder of 2025. While 23% describe themselves as “very concerned,” 55% say they are “somewhat concerned.” These elevated levels of anxiety suggest that the ceasefire, though welcomed, has not restored confidence in international travel.

“Even after a ceasefire, the impact on traveler psychology lingers,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue. “People are weighing risk more carefully, and safety continues to drive travel decisions.”

 

International Travel and Rising Caution

Only 7% of travelers have actively changed or canceled travel plans due to the conflict. But beneath that low cancellation rate lies a more cautious mindset: 12% are taking a ‘wait and see’ approach, delaying travel decisions based on how the situation evolves.

Meanwhile, nearly half of all travelers (42%) are already avoiding specific countries. Another 40% say they may alter plans depending on future developments. In total, this means that more than 80% of respondents are factoring geopolitical instability into their travel decisions.

 

Is It Safe To Travel to Israel? Gender Gap Says Otherwise

The survey also uncovers a stark gender divide. While a growing number of travelers ask, “Is it safe to travel to Israel?” the response varies widely between men and women.

  • 35% of women say they are “very concerned” about safety — nearly twice the rate of men (19%).
  • 52% of women are avoiding specific destinations, compared to 39% of men.
  • 16% of women are delaying international travel decisions, vs. 11% of men.
  • On the other hand, 22% of men report no safety concerns at all, compared to just 9% of women.

“Ceasefires help reduce immediate risk, but they don’t erase long-standing safety perceptions,” said Richards. “Women, in particular, remain highly aware of how geopolitical instability can affect their safety abroad.”

 

Global Concern, Not Just American

The survey shows consistent caution across national lines. Among US travelers, 23% say they’re “very concerned,” and 56% are “somewhat concerned” about regional safety — nearly identical to non-US travelers (23% and 55%, respectively).

When it comes to avoiding destinations:

  • 43% of Americans are avoiding specific countries.
  • 38% of non-US travelers say the same.
  • Slightly more non-US respondents (15%) say the conflict doesn’t influence their destination choices, compared to 11% of Americans.

“Even in periods of calm, travelers are taking a measured approach,” Richards noted. “They understand that the return to normal travel conditions often lags behind political developments.”

 

Surge in Security Memberships

One of the clearest signs of shifting traveler priorities is the sharp increase in demand for security memberships. Purchases of Global Rescue security memberships are up 26% compared to the same period in 2024.

The most dramatic spike came during the week of June 16–22, with a 41% increase over the same week last year, coinciding with a wave of headlines surrounding the ceasefire and military posturing between Israel and Iran.

“Travelers are no longer willing to risk being caught unprepared in a conflict zone,” said Richards, who also serves on the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. “They want the ability to make a single phone call and have a team of security professionals mobilized to help them. That’s exactly what a Global Rescue security membership provides.”

 

Ceasefire Is Not the End of the Story

The 2025 ceasefire between Israel and Iran may have quieted the headlines, but it hasn’t quelled anxiety among international travelers. From solo tourists to corporate travel managers, safety remains the dominant factor in trip planning for the Middle East and surrounding regions.

The Global Rescue Summer 2025 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey underscores a new era of cautious optimism, one where travelers continue to ask hard questions before booking a trip. Chief among them: Is it safe to travel to Israel and the regions nearby this year? For now, the answer is “maybe,” with eyes still fixed on unfolding events.