Article Highlights:

• Global travelers — especially women and international adventurers — are leading the global shift toward generative AI-driven trip planning.
• 22% of travelers now use AI tools, with high satisfaction and strong intent to use them again.
• Generative AI is most often used for itinerary creation, general research, flight booking and translation assistance.
• International travelers rely on AI to overcome language and visa challenges, while US travelers use it for convenience.
• Nearly 93% of travelers say they will use AI for their next trip, marking a major leap in travel technology adaptation.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer science fiction — it’s a trusted travel companion. From itinerary creation to real-time translation, AI tools are helping travelers plan, book and experience trips in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago.

The Global Rescue Fall 2025 Traveler Safety and Sentiment Survey reveals that non-US travelers and women are leading this technological evolution, demonstrating that AI adaptation is well underway in global travel.

As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, its growing use in trip planning marks a major milestone: travelers aren’t just trying AI — they’re trusting it.

The Rise of AI in Travel Planning

According to the Global Rescue survey, more than one in five travelers (22%) already use AI tools for trip planning. While that number may seem modest, it’s part of a fast-rising trend — one that mirrors AI’s expanding role across industries from healthcare to finance.

AI-driven trip planning tools such as Google Travel, ChatGPT and Hopper use vast datasets and natural language processing to analyze flight patterns, price trends, safety conditions and even local events. This helps travelers make smarter decisions in less time.

But the data also reveals striking differences in how people are adapting to artificial intelligence across demographics and geographies.

Who’s Leading the AI Adaptation Trend?

International, non-US travelers and women are at the forefront of AI adoption in trip planning. Among non-US respondents, 30% reported using AI tools, compared to 20% of American travelers. Women also slightly outpace men, with 24% of female respondents using AI tools compared to 22% of men.

These trends suggest that travelers facing greater logistical challenges — such as language barriers, visa complexities or unfamiliar destinations — are more inclined to lean on artificial intelligence. AI is helping them bridge gaps in knowledge and confidence, delivering personalized insights that empower independent travel.

“The data suggest that international travelers are leading the way in adopting AI for travel, using it to overcome logistical, linguistic and informational barriers,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. “AI is proving its value for travelers who want smarter, faster and more personalized trip planning.”

How Travelers Use AI Tools

For those who have already embraced AI, the most common uses include itinerary creation (73%) and general research (67%). These travelers are letting AI tools inspire destinations, organize complex logistics and suggest activities that align with personal interests or safety preferences.

AI tools are also helping with specific travel tasks:

• 36% of travelers use AI for restaurant recommendations
• 35% for flights
• 30% for lodging
• 26% for visa information
• 21% for language translation

These percentages show that AI is moving far beyond a novelty — it’s becoming a utility. From suggesting the best time to visit Patagonia to warning about crowded tourist zones in Rome, artificial intelligence is providing insights once reserved for elite travel agents or regional experts.

Regional and Gender Differences in AI Use

The survey data shows fascinating distinctions in how AI is applied. International travelers, for instance, use AI more frequently for flights, visa support and translation — tools that simplify global mobility.

US travelers, by contrast, rely more heavily on AI for domestic conveniences like lodging and restaurant recommendations. This suggests that AI’s most transformative potential lies in helping travelers overcome the complexities of international travel.

Gender differences are equally telling. Women are not only using AI more frequently, but they’re also applying it across a broader range of travel needs — from research and itinerary design to dining and navigation.

Men, meanwhile, report slightly higher satisfaction rates, with many indicating that they find AI tools useful enough to rely on for future trips.

The Confidence Factor: Satisfaction With AI

Trust is the foundation of adaptation and travelers appear to have it in abundance. Nearly 80% of respondents rated AI tools as “very” or “mostly useful.”

Women showed particularly high levels of satisfaction, with 89% finding AI at least somewhat beneficial. Men were nearly as positive at 86%, reflecting broad confidence in the technology’s reliability.

In an era where travelers face a steady stream of uncertainties — from flight disruptions to changing visa rules — AI tools are offering reassurance through precision, speed and personalization.

Looking Ahead: The Future of AI in Travel

The enthusiasm for AI is unmistakable. More than nine in ten travelers (93%) said they are “likely” or “very likely” to use AI on their next trip. That’s an extraordinary figure that signals a permanent shift in how people plan and experience travel.

AI systems are improving rapidly. Today, they can:

• Anticipate flight cancellations or weather disruptions using predictive modeling.
• Translate complex local laws and health advisories in seconds.
• Build fully optimized itineraries that balance cost, time and safety.
• Analyze individual travel histories to recommend personalized destinations.

As AI continues to advance, it will likely integrate more deeply with augmented reality navigation, biometric identification at borders and real-time travel security monitoring. The result: an era of hyper-personalized, risk-aware travel planning.

Yet, even as artificial intelligence enhances convenience and safety, travelers must remain vigilant. AI can guide decisions — but it cannot replace the judgment and preparedness that come from experience, education and common sense.

Why Travelers Are Adapting to AI Now

Artificial intelligence has arrived at the perfect time for travelers. Trip planning has become more complex than ever, with geopolitical tensions, shifting border policies and rising climate-related disruptions. AI tools help simplify that chaos by filtering vast amounts of information into clear, actionable insights.

AI systems don’t sleep, get distracted or make emotional decisions. They deliver data-driven recommendations that travelers can trust — whether comparing visa requirements for Kenya or predicting the safest driving routes through the Alps.

Moreover, modern AI tools are learning faster than humans can teach. With every search query, booking and traveler review, these systems refine their algorithms to produce better results the next time.

This continuous improvement loop means that AI is not just helping travelers today — it’s evolving with them.

A Balanced Partnership: Humans and Machines

Still, technology is only as powerful as the people who use it. The best travelers blend the speed and intelligence of AI with their own instincts and adaptability.

Artificial intelligence can design the perfect itinerary, but it can’t interpret the subtle joy of discovering an unlisted café in Lisbon or the comfort of a local guide’s advice in Nepal. Human experience adds the context and creativity that no algorithm can replicate.

As AI continues to adapt to human behavior, travelers, too, are adapting — becoming more data-literate, safety-conscious and strategic. This partnership between people and machines is defining a new era of global mobility.

Agentic AI vs. Generative AI

While travelers are clearly intrigued by the growing capabilities of artificial intelligence, their skepticism often comes down to the difference between Agentic AI and Generative AI — two distinct forms of AI that serve very different purposes. Generative AI, the type most travelers are familiar with, powers conversational assistants, itinerary builders and translation tools. It helps travelers create content — from itineraries to packing lists — based on prompts and preferences. Generative AI works collaboratively, requiring user input and delivering suggestions that travelers can review, refine and approve. It’s seen as helpful, creative and supportive — not controlling.

Agentic AI, on the other hand, takes things a step further. It doesn’t just suggest — it acts. This form of artificial intelligence can independently plan, book and manage travel — even rebooking flights or hotels automatically when disruptions occur. But the Global Rescue Fall 2025 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey shows that most travelers aren’t ready to surrender that level of control. When asked if they would consider using Agentic AI for their next international trip, only 22% said yes, while 40% said no and 38% were unsure. Comfort levels fell even further when travelers were asked how they’d feel about Agentic AI making autonomous decisions: only 20% said they’d feel comfortable letting AI design a complete itinerary and nearly eight in ten (79%) said they’d be uncomfortable if AI booked flights, hotels or activities without their approval.

Travelers’ attitudes toward these technologies reflect a broader theme: trust grows with collaboration but shrinks with autonomy. Generative AI earns confidence because it acts like a capable assistant — responsive, fast and ultimately deferential to human judgment. Agentic AI, by contrast, is perceived as a decision-maker, one that could remove travelers from critical choices. Even though acceptance rises slightly when Agentic AI is used for simple, low-risk tasks — such as applying discounts or promo codes, where 38% of travelers say they’re comfortable — deep trust remains elusive. Until travelers feel confident that autonomous systems are transparent, ethical and accountable, they’ll continue to embrace AI as a partner — not a pilot — in their trip planning.

The Global Rescue Connection

No matter how advanced AI becomes, it can’t replace the need for expert human intervention during an emergency. When a traveler faces a medical crisis, security threat or evacuation scenario, Global Rescue bridges the gap between digital intelligence and real-world response.

From field rescue and medical evacuation to medical advisory and travel risk management, Global Rescue’s teams are available 24/7 — anywhere in the world. Their partnerships with elite medical institutions, including the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations, ensure that help is not only available, but exceptional.

AI can help you plan smarter, travel safer and adapt faster. But when real danger strikes, you’ll want the confidence of human expertise. That’s where Global Rescue stands — ready to respond, wherever you are.