Lebanon, N.H. – November 16, 2022 – For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic, traveler fears about COVID are dramatically subsiding. The Global Rescue Fall 2022 Traveler Safety and Sentiment Survey revealed the biggest fear or concern about international travel among the world’s most experienced travelers is having an injury or illness – but not a COVID-related illness.

Traveler fear of COVID is no longer their biggest concern. Since August 2022, apprehension about COVID dramatically dropped at a rate of 39%, down to 20% compared to 33% in late summer.

“Travel confidence is exploding in a positive direction. Borders are open, TSA data reflects traveler volumes pushing past pre-pandemic levels for the first time in more than two years, and travel spending is at its highest since the pandemic started,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue.

Today, a third of travelers (33%) said their biggest fear is suffering a non-COVID illness or injury followed by trip cancellation (13%), civil unrest (11%), being robbed (5%), natural disasters (3%) and nuclear attack (less than 1%).

The survey further revealed that escalating threats of international military action and ongoing natural disasters make travelers more likely to obtain travel security services. When war broke out between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022 more than a third of surveyed travelers started buying security evacuation protection. Nearly a year later, the war continues and more than half of travelers said they are more likely or much more likely to acquire travel security services.

“Travel uncertainty generally increases traveler demand for emergency medical and security services. Between the war and the pandemic, travelers want medical and emergency response services more than ever,” Richards said.

Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey  

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, conducted a survey of more than 1,000 of its current and former members between October 25 and 31, 2022. The respondents exposed a range of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding international and domestic travel.

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 has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.