NEWS

(Lebanon, NH – August 26, 2026) — Escalating geopolitical tensions, civil unrest and armed conflicts around the world are reshaping international travel decisions, with nearly one-third (29%) of the world's most experienced international travelers canceling, postponing or changing an international trip in 2026 because of destination safety concerns, according to the latest Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.

The survey found that 72% of experienced international travelers say geopolitical tensions, civil unrest and security concerns influence where they travel at least a moderate amount, including 42% who say those issues influence their destination choices a great deal or a lot. Only 8% report that security concerns play no role in selecting international destinations.

Among travelers who changed their plans, 9% selected an alternative destination, 7% postponed an international trip and 6% canceled a trip altogether. A

nother 71% have continued with their original travel plans despite the increasingly uncertain global security environment.

"International travelers are adapting to a world where geopolitical instability has become part of the travel planning process," 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. "Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, civil unrest, terrorism concerns and regional security issues are causing experienced travelers to reassess destinations that may have seemed routine only a few years ago. Travelers aren't giving up on international travel, they're making more informed decisions about where and when to go."

While concern is widespread, differences emerge between US-based and non-US-based travelers.

Among US-based travelers, 72% say geopolitical tensions and security concerns influence their destination choices at least a moderate amount, including 44% who say those factors influence them a great deal or a lot. Twenty-eight percent have already changed, postponed or canceled an international trip in 2026 because of destination safety concerns.

Among non-US-based travelers, 74% say security concerns influence their destination choices at least a moderate amount, while 40% report those issues influence them a great deal or a lot. Nearly 29% have also altered their travel plans, but they are significantly more likely than US travelers to change destinations rather than cancel trips. Nearly 14% of non-US travelers selected a different destination compared with 8% of US-based travelers.

Traveler Decision-Making Tools

When assessing destination safety, experienced travelers overwhelmingly rely on authoritative sources. Nearly 49% identify government travel advisories as their most important source of information before traveling internationally. Another 21% rely primarily on news reports, while 16% turn first to travel security providers.

US-based travelers are more likely to rely on government travel advisories (52% versus 41%), while non-US-based travelers place greater emphasis on news reports (28% versus 19%). Only 5% of experienced travelers say they typically do not research destination safety before departing.

"The quality of information matters as much as the destination itself," Richards said. "Experienced travelers don't rely on headlines or social media alone. They compare government advisories, monitor credible news reporting and seek professional security intelligence to understand what's happening on the ground before they commit to an itinerary."

Richards said today's international travelers recognize that geopolitical conditions can evolve rapidly and affect transportation, border crossings, demonstrations, curfews and access to medical care.

"The question is no longer simply, 'Where do I want to travel?' It's 'What risks exist there today, and how quickly could conditions change?'" Richards said. "Experienced travelers understand that informed destination selection is one of the most effective ways to reduce travel risk while still enjoying the world."

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed the world's most experienced international travelers between June 30 – July 6, 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 – August 17, 2026) — Despite years of international travel experience and countless packing tips, overpacking remains the biggest mistake travelers continue to make, according to the latest Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.

Today, 38% of experienced international travelers identify bringing excess luggage as their single biggest international travel mistake. That's an increase from 32% in 2025 and 35% in both 2024 and 2023, suggesting the problem is resurging after a brief decline.

The finding continues a pattern Global Rescue has tracked for years. In February 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed international travel, 74% of travelers identified overpacking as their biggest travel mistake. While today's figure is nearly half that level, overpacking has remained the No. 1 mistake every year, underscoring a persistent challenge: no matter how much international travel evolves, packing light remains elusive.

"Overpacking is the single most consistent preventable mistake we see, year after year," 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. "It's a habit that adds stress, weight and unnecessary complexity to every stage of a trip, when the real goal of travel should be freedom, flexibility and discovery."

Travelers may be overlooking the more serious consequences of overpacking. “Heavy luggage increases fatigue, reduces balance and raises the risk of falls, back strains and other orthopedic injuries while navigating airports, cruise terminals, cobblestone streets or rugged trails,” Richards said.

Overpacking can also become a liability during emergencies. “Whether evacuating ahead of a wildfire, hurricane or civil unrest, travelers burdened with oversized or multiple bags move more slowly, tire more quickly and may have to abandon their luggage altogether. In a crisis, the ability to move quickly can be just as important as what you packed,” Richards added.

The survey also found that non-US-based travelers are even more likely than US-based travelers to identify overpacking as their biggest mistake. Forty-two percent of non-US respondents cited carrying too much luggage compared with 37% of US-based travelers.

While overpacking tops the list, experienced travelers identified several other common mistakes. Nineteen percent said booking excessively tight layover connections caused the greatest problems on international trips, including 20% of US-based travelers compared with 16% of non-US travelers. Another 10% regretted over-scheduling their itineraries with no buffer time, while 8% cited traveling without downloading offline maps and digital booking documents. Another 8% pointed to exchanging currency at expensive airport kiosks instead of planning ahead.

Ironically, the same survey found that experienced travelers already know many of the solutions. Their favorite travel hack is placing smart tags in checked luggage, selected by 31% of respondents, followed by emailing digital copies of passports and identification documents to themselves (16%). Other popular techniques include using compression packing cubes (10%), rolling clothes instead of folding them (10%), using a multi-port wall charger (9%), bringing an empty reusable water bottle through airport security (7%) and downloading entertainment before departure (6%).

Travelers on opposite sides of the Atlantic share many of the same habits but with subtle differences. US-based travelers are more likely to rely on smart luggage tags (34% versus 22%), while non-US-based travelers are more likely to email passport copies to themselves (20% versus 16%), use compression packing cubes (13% versus 10%) and download entertainment before leaving home (9% versus 5%).

"The irony is that experienced travelers have become exceptionally good at using technology to solve travel problems," Richards said. "They track their luggage, digitize important documents and prepare for disruptions. Yet many still start every trip with the same mistake—bringing more than they need."

Richards said lighter packing delivers benefits that extend far beyond avoiding baggage fees.

"A lighter bag makes every part of international travel easier, from navigating airports and train stations to changing flights, climbing hotel stairs or adapting when plans suddenly change," he said. "Experienced travelers know flexibility is one of the greatest luxuries in travel, and packing less is one of the simplest ways to achieve it."

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed the world's most experienced international travelers between June 30 – July 6, 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 – August 11, 2026) — Artificial intelligence (AI) use among experienced international travelers for trip planning has increased 64% in just six months, while resistance to the technology continues to soften, according to the latest Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.

Since January 2026, the percentage of experienced international travelers using AI to help plan international trips has risen from 22% to 36%, a 14 percentage-point increase, representing 64% growth in traveler adoption. During the same period, the share of travelers unwilling to use AI declined by 12%, falling from 40% in January to 35% today, while many previously undecided travelers have begun experimenting with the technology.

Today, 36% of experienced international travelers report using AI to help plan international trips, including 14% who use it frequently, 11% occasionally and 11% once or twice. Another 29% have not yet used AI but are interested, while 35% remain uninterested.

"Experienced travelers are becoming more comfortable with AI, but they're embracing it on their own terms," 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. "Over the past six months we've seen a significant shift from curiosity to adoption. Travelers increasingly trust AI to research destinations, compare options and build itineraries, but they still want to make the important decisions themselves."

AI adoption varies significantly between US-based and non-US-based travelers.

Among US-based travelers, 33% have used AI to plan an international trip, while 31% are interested but have not yet tried it and 36% remain uninterested.

Non-US-based travelers are adopting AI much more rapidly. Nearly 48% have already used AI for trip planning, compared with 19% who are interested but have not yet used it and 32% who are not interested.

"The adoption gap is striking," Richards said. "Experienced travelers outside the United States are leading AI adoption, particularly for information-intensive tasks such as destination research, itinerary development and navigating international entry requirements."

Travelers overwhelmingly use AI as a planning and research tool rather than an automated booking agent. The most common application is destination research (30%), followed by building itineraries (22%), flight or hotel recommendations (19%), visa and entry requirement research (18%) and transportation planning (14%). Additional uses include restaurant recommendations (11%), translation assistance (10%) and travel budgeting (3%).

Non-US-based travelers consistently report greater AI use across nearly every planning function. They are more likely than US-based travelers to use AI for destination research (37% versus 27%), building itineraries (28% versus 21%), flight or hotel recommendations (26% versus 17%), translation assistance (15% versus 8%) and visa or entry requirement research (23% versus 17%).

When asked which AI capability would be most valuable during an international trip, respondents again favored information-driven assistance over automation. The most valuable AI feature is destination research (18%), followed by building itineraries (16%), translation assistance (10%), visa and entry requirement research (7%) and flight or hotel recommendations (5%). Even so, 26% say they still would not use AI for travel, underscoring that many experienced travelers remain cautious about relying on artificial intelligence.

"The evolution over the past six months has been remarkable but the story isn't that AI is replacing travel advisors or traveler judgment," Richards said. "It's becoming another indispensable planning tool. Experienced travelers are finding it useful for research and planning while recognizing that international travel often requires experience, context and human judgment that technology alone cannot provide."

"AI is becoming another valuable tool in the travel planning process," Richards added. "But when conditions change unexpectedly due to severe weather, geopolitical tensions or infrastructure collapse, experienced travelers still rely on professional advice, real-time intelligence and expert human support to make the right decisions."

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed the world's most experienced international travelers between June 30 – July 6, 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 – August 11, 2026) — Artificial intelligence (AI) use among experienced international travelers for trip planning has increased 64% in just six months, while resistance to the technology continues to soften, according to the latest Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.

Since January 2026, the percentage of experienced international travelers using AI to help plan international trips has risen from 22% to 36%, a 14 percentage-point increase, representing 64% growth in traveler adoption. During the same period, the share of travelers unwilling to use AI declined by 12%, falling from 40% in January to 35% today, while many previously undecided travelers have begun experimenting with the technology.

Today, 36% of experienced international travelers report using AI to help plan international trips, including 14% who use it frequently, 11% occasionally and 11% once or twice. Another 29% have not yet used AI but are interested, while 35% remain uninterested.

"Experienced travelers are becoming more comfortable with AI, but they're embracing it on their own terms," 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. "Over the past six months we've seen a significant shift from curiosity to adoption. Travelers increasingly trust AI to research destinations, compare options and build itineraries, but they still want to make the important decisions themselves."

AI adoption varies significantly between US-based and non-US-based travelers.

Among US-based travelers, 33% have used AI to plan an international trip, while 31% are interested but have not yet tried it and 36% remain uninterested.

Non-US-based travelers are adopting AI much more rapidly. Nearly 48% have already used AI for trip planning, compared with 19% who are interested but have not yet used it and 32% who are not interested.

"The adoption gap is striking," Richards said. "Experienced travelers outside the United States are leading AI adoption, particularly for information-intensive tasks such as destination research, itinerary development and navigating international entry requirements."

Travelers overwhelmingly use AI as a planning and research tool rather than an automated booking agent. The most common application is destination research (30%), followed by building itineraries (22%), flight or hotel recommendations (19%), visa and entry requirement research (18%) and transportation planning (14%). Additional uses include restaurant recommendations (11%), translation assistance (10%) and travel budgeting (3%).

Non-US-based travelers consistently report greater AI use across nearly every planning function. They are more likely than US-based travelers to use AI for destination research (37% versus 27%), building itineraries (28% versus 21%), flight or hotel recommendations (26% versus 17%), translation assistance (15% versus 8%) and visa or entry requirement research (23% versus 17%).

When asked which AI capability would be most valuable during an international trip, respondents again favored information-driven assistance over automation. The most valuable AI feature is destination research (18%), followed by building itineraries (16%), translation assistance (10%), visa and entry requirement research (7%) and flight or hotel recommendations (5%). Even so, 26% say they still would not use AI for travel, underscoring that many experienced travelers remain cautious about relying on artificial intelligence.

"The evolution over the past six months has been remarkable but the story isn't that AI is replacing travel advisors or traveler judgment," Richards said. "It's becoming another indispensable planning tool. Experienced travelers are finding it useful for research and planning while recognizing that international travel often requires experience, context and human judgment that technology alone cannot provide."

"AI is becoming another valuable tool in the travel planning process," Richards added. "But when conditions change unexpectedly due to severe weather, geopolitical tensions or infrastructure collapse, experienced travelers still rely on professional advice, real-time intelligence and expert human support to make the right decisions."

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed the world's most experienced international travelers between June 30 – July 6, 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.