(Lebanon, N.H – May 4, 2026) – Most travelers are not discouraged by new or higher travel fees planned for 2026, but significant gaps remain in awareness of the European Union’s upcoming ETIAS entry requirement, according to the Global Rescue Winter 2026 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.

ETIAS requires travelers to complete an online application and pay a €20 fee (about $22 USD) before entering Europe for short stays. It applies to citizens of visa-exempt countries (including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia) traveling to the Schengen Area, with rollout expected in late 2026.

Overall, awareness of ETIAS is mixed. Nearly three in ten travelers, 29%, say they are not at all aware of the new requirement, while a combined 52% report being moderately or very aware. Another 17% are only slightly aware.

Awareness differs notably by gender. Women report substantially higher familiarity with ETIAS than men. Forty-two% of women say they are very aware of the new requirement, compared to 26% of men. Conversely, one-third of men, 33%, say they are not at all aware, compared to 18% of women.

Geography also plays a role. Travelers based outside the US show higher awareness than their US counterparts. Thirty-two% of non-US respondents say they are very aware of ETIAS, compared to 29% of US respondents. Nearly one-quarter of non-US travelers report no awareness at all, versus 32% of US travelers.

“ETIAS is a meaningful change for visa-exempt travelers, and the lack of awareness, particularly among US travelers and men, is concerning,” 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. “Failure to complete the process in advance could result in denied boarding or entry delays, which can disrupt trips before they even begin.”

In contrast, travelers appear largely unfazed by new destination-specific entry and stay fees.

An overwhelming majority, 92%, say Thailand’s new 300-baht entry fee, roughly $10 USD, would not discourage them from traveling there. Only 4% say the fee would deter their travel. Responses are consistent across genders and regions, with 94% of women and 92% of men saying the fee would not prevent travel. Among non-US travelers, resistance is even lower, with 94% saying the fee would not discourage a trip.

Similarly, new overnight stay fees up to $65 per day planned for Barcelona, London and Kyoto appear unlikely to significantly impact travel decisions. Overall, 45% say the fees would not prevent them from traveling or staying in those destinations at all, while another 36% say the impact would depend on the per day fee amount but likely would not deter them. Only 15% say the fees would discourage travel or stays.

Men are slightly less sensitive to the new overnight fees than women. Forty-five% of men say the fees would not prevent travel, compared to 47% of women. US travelers appear more tolerant than non-US travelers, with 49% of US respondents saying the fees would not deter them, compared to 38% of non-US respondents. Still, even among non-US travelers, a strong majority say the fees would either not prevent travel or would only matter depending on the amount.

“Travelers are showing resilience and flexibility when it comes to reasonable fees, but administrative requirements like ETIAS are a different matter,” Richards said. “Fees may be an inconvenience, but lack of preparation can stop a trip entirely. That’s where education and planning become critical.”

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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. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.