NEWS

(Lebanon, NH – June 1, 2026) – International travelers are actively reshaping where they go, and where they won’t, in 2026, avoiding regions tied to active conflict, geopolitical instability and persistent security risks, according to new data from the Global Rescue Spring 2026 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.

The findings reveal a clear hierarchy of avoidance led by the world’s most volatile regions. Nearly three-quarters of travelers (73%) say they are avoiding countries in the Middle East adjacent to Israel, Syria and Iran. Pakistan follows at 50%, along with African nations near conflict zones such as Sudan, Libya and Somalia (45%). Central European countries bordering Russia and Ukraine are also widely avoided (40%).

“These results show that travelers are not retreating from international travel, they’re becoming more selective and risk-aware,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies. “Active conflicts and geopolitical instability are directly influencing where people are willing to go.”

Beyond active war zones, avoidance extends to regions associated with crime, instability and governance concerns. Approximately one-third of travelers (33%) report avoiding Mexico, while 31% are steering clear of parts of South and Central America near Venezuela, Honduras, Guatemala and Colombia.

Caribbean destinations near Haiti, Cuba and Jamaica are being avoided by 23% of travelers, and 20% report avoiding India. In contrast, traditional low-risk destinations remain largely unaffected, with fewer than 2% of travelers avoiding Canada or Australia/New Zealand.

Gender Differences in Risk Perception

The data reveals a consistent pattern of higher risk sensitivity among female travelers, particularly in regions associated with conflict or instability. Women are significantly more likely than men to avoid the Middle East (79% vs. 72%), Central Europe near Russia and Ukraine (45% vs. 37%) and parts of South and Central America (38% vs. 28%).

“Women are demonstrating heightened sensitivity to geopolitical and regional instability, particularly where conflicts are active or evolving,” said Richards. “That aligns with broader trends in risk perception and travel planning behavior.”

Differences are narrower in destinations such as Mexico and the Caribbean, where avoidance rates between men and women are relatively aligned.

US-based and non-US-based Travelers Diverge

Geography plays a defining role in how travelers assess risk. US-based respondents are significantly more likely to avoid destinations in Mexico (37% vs. 21% of non-US-based travelers), Pakistan (52% vs. 43%), African conflict-adjacent countries (46% vs. 39%) and India (23% vs. 12%).

At the same time, non-US-based travelers are far more likely to avoid the United States itself, with 31% indicating avoidance compared to less than 1% of US-based respondents, one of the most pronounced perception gaps in the data.

“This is a clear example of how risk perception is shaped by perspective and proximity,” Richards said. “What feels familiar to one group may feel uncertain or risky to another.”

A More Selective Global Traveler

The data reinforces a broader shift in traveler behavior: rather than avoiding international travel altogether, travelers are actively managing risk through destination selection.

“Travelers are not standing still—they’re adapting,” Richards added. “Understanding where risks are increasing and adjusting accordingly has become a fundamental part of modern travel planning.”

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 1,200 current and former members between April 7 - 13, 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 – May 26, 2026) – Security extraction capabilities and real-time intelligence are emerging as foundational expectations among international travelers, according to new data from the Global Rescue Spring 2026 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. The findings reveal not only strong overall demand for security support, but also meaningful differences in how risk is perceived across genders and between US-based and non-US-based travelers.

More than three-quarters of respondents (77%) say security extraction services are either very important (44%) or important (33%) when traveling internationally. However, the intensity of that concern varies significantly. A majority of women (53%) rate extraction as very important, compared to just 38% of men — a nearly 15-point gap that underscores a higher level of risk sensitivity among female travelers.

Geographic differences are also notable. Half of non-US-based travelers (50%) consider extraction services very important, compared to 43% of US-based respondents, suggesting heightened awareness or exposure to travel risk outside the United States.

“Extraction is no longer viewed as an extreme or niche capability, it’s becoming a baseline expectation for serious international travelers,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies. “What’s particularly important is how clearly the data shows different traveler segments evaluating risk through different lenses.”

Access to real-time security intelligence is also a powerful enabler of travel. More than 81% of respondents say such intelligence would increase their willingness to travel to foreign or remote destinations, including 54% who say they would be very likely or 100% willing to travel with access to that information.

Women again show more sensitivity to risk mitigation tools: 25% say real-time intelligence would definitely increase their willingness to travel, compared to 21% of men. Non-US-based travelers are also more responsive, with 26% indicating “yes, 100%,” versus 21% of US-based respondents.

At the same time, women are more likely to express hesitation overall, with 20% saying they are not very likely to be influenced by real-time intelligence, compared to 14% of men—highlighting a more polarized risk posture.

Growing concerns about safety in international travel are already translating into action. Global Rescue reports a 30% increase in security membership purchases so far this year compared to the same period in 2025, underscoring rising demand for professional travel risk management services.

When ranking specific protections, travelers overwhelmingly prioritize outcomes over advisory services. Physical extraction in response to bodily threat ranks as the most important capability by a wide margin, with 62% selecting it as their top priority.

Other high-ranking services include:

• Comprehensive kidnapping, extortion and violent crime support (47% most important)
• Expert-led security incident response and negotiation (41%)
• Security advisory services (33%)

Notably, traditional preparedness measures such as training rank lower, reinforcing that travelers place the highest value on immediate, decisive intervention during crises.

When asked what would most influence their decision to obtain security services, travelers point primarily to situational risk:

• Traveling to a high-risk destination (31%) is the leading trigger, especially among non-US-based travelers (36% vs. 30% US-based)
• Spikes in threats targeting foreigners (20%)
• Destinations with inadequate emergency response infrastructure (17%)

“These triggers reinforce a key point: demand for security services is highly contextual,” Richards added. “It’s not just who the traveler is—it’s where they’re going and what’s happening on the ground in real time.”

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 1,200 current and former members between April 7–13, 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 — May 18 2026) — Global Rescue, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services, is helping to fund 36 scholarships provided by the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation (GDMF) for active and former members of the US military Special Operations community transition to new careers through advanced education and professional training.

“The Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation delivers measurable, life-changing outcomes for Special Operations professionals at a pivotal moment in their lives,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies. “Our continued support reflects a long-term commitment to helping these men and women translate their leadership, discipline and experience into successful civilian careers.”

For the 2024–25 academic year, GDMF awarded 18 new scholarships and is also supporting 18 current scholars in their second, third or fourth year of study. Programs include MBA, MD, JD, PhD, PA, BS/BA degrees and pilot’s licenses, providing pathways to careers in medicine, law, business, aviation and other critical professions.

“Global Rescue’s ongoing support allows us to invest not only in new scholars, but also in those already deep into demanding academic and professional programs,” said Kate (Doherty) Quigley, President of the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation. “That continuity is essential to helping our scholars complete their education and build sustainable careers beyond the military.”

Global Rescue’s connection to the Special Operations community is deeply rooted within its own organization. Approximately 20 percent of Global Rescue’s medical, security and administrative staff are military veterans, primarily from the Special Operations community, bringing firsthand operational experience and mission focus to the company’s global response capabilities.

Glen Doherty, a former Global Rescue Operations Specialist and US Navy SEAL, was killed in the 2012 terrorist attacks on the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya while working for the US Department of State.

“Glen was an exceptional member of the Global Rescue team and a respected professional,” said Richards. “Supporting the Foundation that bears his name is one way we honor his legacy by helping today’s Special Operations professionals prepare for their next chapter.”

Since its founding in 2013, the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation has awarded scholarships to 135 deserving individuals totaling more than $1 million. All active-duty and former Special Operations Forces personnel, including Army Green Berets & Rangers, Navy SEALs & SWCCs, Marine Raiders & Force RECON, and Air Force Special Tactics, and their children are eligible for scholarships. The Foundation’s work plays a vital role in enabling elite military professionals to successfully transition into new professional roles after service.

(Lebanon, NH – May 11, 2026) — Flight cancelations and geopolitical instability have reached near parity as the two most important factors shaping international travel decisions in 2026, according to new Global Rescue survey data. The findings show that travelers are weighing air travel reliability and global risk almost equally, while rising travel costs play a more segmented role depending on the traveler.

According to the Spring 2026 Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey, 79% of travelers rate flight cancellations and airline reliability as important or very important, compared to 77% for geopolitical instability, a narrow gap that underscores how closely aligned these concerns have become.

“Travelers are telling us that what disrupts their trip is just as important as what threatens it,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies. “Airline reliability has narrowly overtaken geopolitical instability as the top concern for most travelers, signaling a shift toward practical, experience-driven risk assessment. At the same time, geopolitical instability remains nearly as influential, which shows travelers are balancing both disruption and danger in their decision-making.”

This convergence holds across all segments, with only marginal differences between groups. Among women, 85% rate geopolitical instability as important or very important, nearly identical to the 84% who say the same about flight cancellations. Among men, airline reliability holds a modest edge, with 75% prioritizing it compared to 70% for geopolitical instability, but both factors remain clearly top-tier concerns.

A similar pattern appears geographically, where differences are also minimal. Among US-based respondents, 79% rate airline reliability as important or very important compared to 75% for geopolitical instability. Among non-US-based respondents, the ranking is essentially reversed, with 76% prioritizing geopolitical instability and 75% flight cancellations—effectively demonstrating that both issues carry nearly equal weight regardless of location.

Beyond these two leading concerns, the survey reveals a second tier of factors that influence travel decisions differently depending on the audience. Cost pressures remain significant but clearly secondary, with 57% of travelers overall rating rising airfare as important or very important. That figure climbs to 61% among non-US-based respondents, compared to 52% among US-based respondents, indicating stronger economic sensitivity outside the United States.

Anti-American sentiment abroad falls into a more polarized category. Overall, 50% of travelers rate it as important or very important, but this masks a sharp geographic divide. Among US-based respondents, 58% consider it important or very important, reflecting heightened awareness of how Americans may be perceived overseas. In contrast, just 28% of non-US-based respondents assign it the same level of importance, with a majority placing it in lower-importance categories.

Gender differences also emerge on this issue, though less dramatically than with geopolitical risk. 56% of women rate anti-American sentiment as important or very important compared to 49% of men, suggesting women again exhibit greater sensitivity to perception-based and situational risks.

Taken together, the data shows that international travel planning in 2026 is no longer driven by a single dominant concern but by a combination of equally weighted risks. Operational reliability and geopolitical instability form the core of this framework, while cost and perception-based factors exert more targeted influence depending on who the traveler is.

“The modern traveler is balancing multiple variables simultaneously,” Richards said. “What’s changed is not just what they worry about, but how much weight they assign to each factor—and that balance varies significantly across different groups.”

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 1,200 current and former members between April 7 - 13, 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.