(Lebanon, N H – March 31, 2026) – Most travelers expect artificial intelligence to play a limited and carefully controlled role in travel planning in 2026, with human judgment, personal experience and independent verification continuing to dominate decision-making, according to the Global Rescue Winter 2026 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.

Overall, 36% of travelers say they expect to use AI in some capacity when planning travel in 2026, whether to generate inspiration, narrow options or, in rare cases, make decisions on their behalf. However, a clear majority remain cautious: 36% say they will not use AI for travel planning at all, while 25% plan to rely mostly on human recommendations.

“Travelers are interested in AI, but they are not ready to hand over control,” 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. “AI is viewed as a helpful assistant, not a trusted authority, particularly when safety, cost and risk are involved.”

Gender differences highlight varying levels of comfort with AI. Men are more likely than women to use AI as a decision-support tool, with 25% of men saying AI will help narrow options before they make final decisions, compared to 19% of women. Women are more inclined to avoid AI altogether, with 36% saying they will not use AI for travel planning, slightly higher than men at 35%. Women are also more likely to rely mostly on human recommendations (26%) versus 23% of men.

Geographic differences reveal distinct patterns in how travelers approach AI rather than differing levels of resistance. US and non-US travelers are equally likely to avoid AI altogether, with 37% in both groups saying they will not use AI for travel planning. However, non-US respondents show a stronger preference for human guidance, with 31% relying mostly on human recommendations compared to 22% of US travelers. US travelers are more inclined to use AI as a decision-support tool, with 24% saying AI will help narrow options before they make final decisions, more than double the 11% reported by non-US travelers.

Reluctance grows when AI suggests destinations travelers have never considered. Overall, 41% say they would be unlikely to travel to a destination recommended by AI. Another 30% say they would be somewhat likely, depending on cost and safety considerations, while 20% would consider an AI-recommended destination only after independent verification. Just 1% say they would be very likely to trust the recommendation outright.

“Trust and verification are essential,” Richards said. “AI may introduce travelers to new ideas, but it rarely closes the deal without human confirmation.”

Women express slightly higher levels of skepticism than men, with 43% saying they would be unlikely to follow an AI destination recommendation, compared to 39% of men. Men are more willing to independently verify AI suggestions, with 29% saying they would consider a destination after verification, versus 18% of women.

US and non-US travelers show similar levels of caution. Forty-two percent of US travelers and 43% of non-US travelers say they would be unlikely to travel to an AI-recommended destination. US travelers are slightly more likely to independently verify recommendations, while non-US travelers show a marginally higher tendency to weigh cost and safety factors before deciding.

“AI will influence how travelers discover destinations, but it will not replace human judgment,” Richards said. “For travelers focused on safety and resilience, technology must support informed decisions, not substitute for them.”

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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. Learn more at globalrescue.com.