NEWS

(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.”

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.

(Lebanon, NH – February 19, 2026) — Travelers are feeling less safe moving through US airports as the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) affects Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operations, according to the latest Global Rescue Survey of the world’s most experienced travelers.

More than one-third of respondents say they feel less safe traveling through US airports as a result of the shutdown, including 25% who feel somewhat less safe and 10% who feel much less safe. By comparison, 49% report no change in how safe they feel.

Traveler concerns extend beyond safety perceptions to operational impacts. When asked about potential TSA staffing shortages and slower baggage screening, 63% say they are more concerned about lost, delayed or mishandled luggage, including 45% who are somewhat more concerned and 18% who are much more concerned. Thirty percent report no change in their level of concern.

Traveler anxiety is even higher regarding flight disruptions. Sixty-seven percent of respondents say they are more worried about missing a flight or experiencing delays due to longer security lines and operational challenges, including 45% who are somewhat more worried and 22% who are much more worried. Twenty-six percent say their level of concern has not changed.

“These findings show that operational instability at airports quickly translates into traveler anxiety,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board member at the U.S. Department of Commerce. “When travelers perceive that security staffing, baggage screening and passenger throughput are under strain, confidence erodes. Restoring predictability and operational reliability is critical to maintaining trust in the US air travel system.”

The survey underscores that while a significant share of travelers report no change in perception, a substantial portion are expressing elevated concern across multiple aspects of the airport experience — from personal safety to baggage handling and the risk of delays.

“Standard travel insurance typically does not cover government shutdowns as a reason for cancellation, though it may cover resulting flight disruptions if they qualify as a common carrier issue,” Richards added. “Travelers who want certainty around shutdown-related risks should consider a Cancel for Any Reason upgrade, which is generally required to ensure broader cancellation flexibility.”

For more information, contact:

Bill McIntyre | bmcintyre@globalrescue.com | +1 202.560.1195

About the Global Rescue Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, conducted a snap survey collecting more than 1,100 responses from current and former members on February 17-18, 2026.

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.

(Lebanon, NH – February 17, 2026) One in five travelers plan to take more trips with longer stays in 2026, signaling a growing preference for deeper, more immersive travel even as overall travel patterns remain largely stable, according to the Global Rescue Winter 2026 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey of the world’s most experienced travelers. While nearly half of respondents say they do not expect any change in trip frequency or length, the data highlights meaningful differences between US and non-US survey respondents, as well as between men and women.

Overall, 20% of respondents expect to take more trips with longer stays in 2026. Another 11% expect longer stays while taking fewer trips. In contrast, 49% say they do not expect any change in how often or how long they travel.

“These findings suggest travelers are increasingly prioritizing quality and duration over sheer volume,” 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. “Longer stays can reduce travel friction, help manage costs and provide greater flexibility in an unpredictable global environment.”

A majority of US-based respondents (52%) say their trip frequency and length will remain the same, compared with 40% of non-US respondents. Respondents living outside of the US are more inclined to expect fewer trips with longer stays (16%) compared with 10% among US-based travelers. Gender differences further underscore shifting travel preferences. Men are more likely than women to plan more trips with longer stays, at 22% compared with 16%.

“Travelers shifting to longer stays are seeking deeper cultural immersion, more time to adjust to jetlag, a less rushed overall experience and cost savings through weekly or monthly rates,” Richards said. “These extended trips reflect a more intentional and rewarding approach to travel.”

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.