Visiting New Countries Tops 2026 Traveler Resolutions; Travelers Embrace Off-Peak Seasons and Lesser-Known Destinations
Visiting New Countries Tops 2026 Traveler Resolutions; Travelers Embrace Off-Peak Seasons and Lesser-Known Destinations
(Lebanon, N.H. — January 26, 2026) — Visiting a new country, destination or continent is the top travel resolution for 2026, according to the Global Rescue Winter 2026 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey, signaling a strong appetite for exploration and global mobility despite ongoing uncertainty in the travel environment.
Overall, 41% of respondents say their most important 2026 travel resolution is to visit someplace new. The desire for exploration is particularly pronounced among women, with 46% citing new destinations as their top priority compared to 40% of men. The gap widens geographically: 54% of non-US travelers prioritize visiting new destinations, versus 38% of US travelers.
US respondents are more focused on increasing the frequency of travel, with 21% naming “travel more” as their top resolution, compared to 15% of non-US travelers.
“Travelers are clearly prioritizing discovery in 2026,” 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. “Whether it’s a first-time destination or an entirely new region, that sense of exploration comes with added complexity — and it reinforces why medical, security and evacuation preparedness remain essential.”
Off-Peak Travel Becomes the New Normal
While bold exploration is top of mind, most travelers are not dramatically changing when they travel. A majority, 57%, say they expect to travel internationally during off-peak or ‘hidden’ seasons about the same as before, but 34% say they are more likely to do so in 2026.
Women are more inclined toward off-peak travel, with 39% saying they are more likely to travel during hidden seasons, compared to 33% of men. US travelers express greater hesitation, with 10% saying they are less likely to travel off-peak, compared to just 1% of non-US travelers.
“Hidden-season travel offers fewer crowds and often better value, but it can also mean limited infrastructure and reduced local services,” Richards said. “Travelers need to balance opportunity with risk awareness.”
Lesser-Known Destinations Strongly Preferred
Destination choice further underscores the shift toward exploration. More than half of all respondents, 52%, say they prefer lesser-known international destinations with fewer crowds in 2026. Only 12% favor well-known destinations with established tourism, while 27% report no strong preference.
Women overwhelmingly favor lesser-known destinations, with 63% selecting this option compared to 49% of men. Non-US travelers, at 55%, also show a stronger preference for emerging or less crowded destinations than US travelers, at 52%.
“Travelers are pushing beyond traditional hotspots,” Richards said. “That trend increases the importance of having rapid access to medical care, evacuation services and real-time security intelligence — especially in destinations where resources may be limited.”
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.
Travelers Expect Greater Danger, Unpredictability in International Travel in 2026
Travelers Expect Greater Danger, Unpredictability in International Travel in 2026
(Lebanon, N H – January 20, 2026) – A majority of travelers believe international travel in 2026 will be either more dangerous or increasingly unpredictable compared to pre-2020 travel, underscoring persistent global security concerns and heightened risk awareness, according to the Global Rescue Winter 2026 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.
Overall, 38% of travelers say international travel danger in 2026 will be unpredictable, while 36% believe it will be more dangerous. Only 1% believe international travel will be less dangerous, and 21% say it will be neither more nor less dangerous than before 2020.
“Travelers are signaling that uncertainty, not just risk, is shaping their decisions,” 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. “Unpredictability is now viewed as the defining feature of international travel, and that has serious implications for preparedness and resilience.”
Men are more likely than women to view international travel as more dangerous, with 38% of men selecting that view compared to 30% of women. Women, however, are significantly more likely to describe international travel as unpredictable, at 49% versus 38% of men. Men are also more likely to believe conditions are neither better nor worse, at 26% compared to 19% of women.
Geographic differences highlight sharper concern among non-US travelers. Nearly half of non-US respondents (49%) say international travel danger in 2026 will be unpredictable, compared to 34% of US-based respondents. US travelers are more likely to believe travel will be more dangerous, at 38% versus 33% of non-US respondents.
Concerns about personal security risks are widespread, particularly around kidnapping, extortion and violent crime. Overall, 82% of travelers express some level of concern when traveling internationally, including 42% who are slightly concerned, 29% who are moderately concerned and 10% who are very concerned. Only 15% say they are not at all concerned.
“Kidnapping and extortion are no longer viewed as rare or isolated risks,” Richards said. “Travelers increasingly understand these threats can affect leisure, business and adventure travel alike.”
Women report slightly higher levels of concern than men. Twelve percent of women say they are very concerned about kidnapping or extortion, compared to 9% of men. Men are more likely to say they are not at all concerned (21%) versus 13% of women. US and non-US travelers show similar concern levels, though non-US travelers are more likely to be very concerned, at 13% compared to 10% of US travelers.
Expert warnings about ongoing conflict, organized crime and political instability in specific regions are strongly influencing traveler behavior and reinforcing perceptions that certain destinations will remain dangerous or high risk in 2026.
Nearly 67% of travelers say they would either avoid travel to Israel and neighboring states entirely or do not plan to travel there regardless of security conditions. Another 17% say they would postpone travel until conditions stabilize, while only 5% would travel as planned and accept the risk.
Mexico presents a more nuanced picture. While 25% say they would avoid travel to Mexico altogether, 36% would travel only to specific areas with added precautions. Another 23% say they are not interested in traveling to Mexico regardless of security risks, reflecting a cautious but differentiated approach.
Colombia faces similarly restrained interest. Thirty-six percent of travelers say they would avoid traveling to Colombia, while 42% say they have no plans or interest in traveling there regardless of security challenges. Only 5% say they would travel as normal and assume risks are manageable.
“These regional responses reinforce why travelers view the global risk environment as unstable,” Richards said. “People are not disengaging from international travel, but they are far more selective, informed and risk-aware.”
When asked to rate their overall international travel safety confidence on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being “completely confident to travel boldly” and 10 being extremely concerned about personal travel safety) travelers clustered toward a “3 to 3.5”, indicating moderate unease.
“Travel in 2026 will reward preparation,” Richards said. “Those who understand the risks, plan accordingly and secure professional support will be best positioned to travel safely in an unpredictable world.”
About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey
Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 1,300 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.
Travelers’ Distrust of Agentic AI Runs Deep; Most Reject AI Trip Planning But Welcome Help With Discounts and Savings
Travelers’ Distrust of Agentic AI Runs Deep; Most Reject AI Trip Planning But Welcome Help With Discounts and Savings
(Lebanon, NH – January 12, 2026) – While artificial intelligence continues to transform industries, most of the world’s most experienced travelers remain reluctant to let “Agentic AI” — autonomous digital assistants that plan, book and manage trips — take charge of their journeys, according to the latest Global Rescue Fall 2025 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.
When asked if they would consider using Agentic AI for their next international trip, just over one in five (22%) said yes. Men (24%) were more open than women (19%) and US travelers (23%) were slightly more receptive than non-US travelers (20%). Nearly four in ten (40%) said they would not use it and another 38% were unsure.
“Travelers are curious but cautious,” 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. “They want to understand how these emerging AI systems make decisions before they’re comfortable handing over control.”
Only 18% of respondents said they had heard of Agentic AI before the survey. Awareness was slightly higher among men (19%) and non-US travelers (20%) than among women (14%) and US respondents (17%).
Comfort levels dropped sharply when travelers were asked how they’d feel about letting Agentic AI make autonomous decisions. Only 20% said they would feel comfortable letting AI design a complete trip itinerary based on their preferences. Women and international travelers were the most hesitant.
Discomfort grew when the scenario involved Agentic AI booking flights, hotels or activities without traveler approval. Nearly eight in ten (79%) said they would feel uncomfortable with that level of control. Women were especially skeptical, with 83% reporting unease compared to 77% of men.
When asked about allowing AI to automatically rebook disrupted flights or hotels, acceptance rose slightly — about 22% said they would feel comfortable, while roughly 60% said they would not. Americans were marginally more open than international travelers, but women again showed greater caution.
The one area where travelers showed stronger acceptance was AI-driven cost savings. About 38% said they would be comfortable letting AI apply promo codes or adjust bookings to find better deals. Men (40%) and US travelers (39%) were more open to this than women (38%) or non-US respondents (35%).
“These results show a clear boundary between curiosity and trust,” Richards said. “Travelers may welcome AI tools that save them money, but they’re not yet ready to let those tools make major decisions on their behalf.”
About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey
Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 1,600 current and former members between October 7–13, 2025. 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.
One in Three Travelers Plan to Retire Abroad; Younger, Higher-Income Travelers Show Growing Interest in International Retirement
One in Three Travelers Plan to Retire Abroad; Younger, Higher-Income Travelers Show Growing Interest in International Retirement
(Lebanon, NH – January 5, 2026) – More than one in three travelers are thinking about retiring outside their home country, according to the latest Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. The results show strong curiosity about international retirement among younger and higher-income respondents, with only about half of all travelers saying they plan to retire domestically.
“Travel often sparks more than just short-term adventure—it opens people’s eyes to what life could look like elsewhere,” 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. “For many, the idea of retiring abroad represents freedom, affordability and access to new experiences.”
Younger Travelers More Open to the Idea
Interest in retiring abroad was highest among travelers under 55, particularly those between 35 and 54 years old. While the majority of survey respondents are over 55, the data indicate that a new generation of travelers is beginning to link their travel ambitions with long-term lifestyle planning.
“People who started traveling globally in their 30s and 40s are now thinking about how they could make that lifestyle permanent,” Richards said. “They’ve seen firsthand how different cultures live—and they’re considering how that could fit into their future.”
Income Plays a Major Role
Wealthier travelers are leading the retirement-abroad trend. Respondents with household incomes above $150,000 were the most likely to consider living overseas, with interest tapering among those earning less than $100,000. Nearly one in ten travelers (9%) reported annual incomes above $500,000, a group particularly drawn to international retirement options.
“Financial flexibility is often a deciding factor,” Richards noted. “The more exposure travelers have to global destinations—and the means to plan accordingly—the more comfortable they are with the idea of retiring somewhere new.”
Gender Similarities in Retirement Outlook
Men (38%) and women (35%) were nearly identical in their interest in retiring abroad. Just over half of all respondents (51%) said they intend to remain in their home country, while 13% are undecided.
“These numbers reflect growing openness to global living,” Richards said. “Even if travelers don’t ultimately move abroad, the fact that one-third are seriously thinking about it shows a significant cultural shift in how people view retirement.”
For more information, contact:
Bill McIntyre | Email: bmcintyre@globalrescue.com | Phone: +1 202.560.1195
About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey
Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 1,600 current and former members between October 7–13, 2025. The respondents revealed a variety of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding current and future travel.
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 supported Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.