Report reveals influence of battle and unrest on journey plans

Nearly one-third (29%) of the world’s most skilled worldwide travellers have cancelled, postponed or modified a global journey in 2026 due to vacation spot security issues, in line with Global Rescue’s newest Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. The report highlights that escalating geopolitical tensions, civil unrest and armed conflicts are reshaping worldwide journey choices.

When assessing vacation spot security, skilled travellers overwhelmingly depend on authoritative sources. Nearly 49% establish authorities journey advisories as their most essential supply of data earlier than travelling internationally. An additional 21% rely totally on information experiences, whereas 16% first flip to journey safety suppliers. 

More than seven in 10 (72%) of skilled worldwide travellers say that tensions, unrest and safety issues affect the place they journey a minimum of a average quantity, with 42% saying these points affect their vacation spot decisions an ideal deal or rather a lot.

Just 8% of respondents say that safety issues play no position in deciding on worldwide locations. 

Among those that modified their plans, 9% chosen another vacation spot, 7% postponed a global journey and 6% cancelled a visit altogether.

Yet 71% continued with their authentic journey plans regardless of the more and more unsure world safety surroundings. 

While issues are widespread, the survey reveals variations between US-based and non-US-based travellers. 

Among US-based travellers, 72% say geopolitical tensions and safety issues affect their vacation spot decisions a minimum of a average quantity, together with 44% who say these components affect them an ideal deal or rather a lot. As many as 29% have modified, postponed or cancelled a global journey in 2026 due to vacation spot security issues. 

Among non-US-based travellers, 74% say safety issues affect their vacation spot decisions a minimum of a average quantity, whereas 40% report these points affect them an ideal deal or rather a lot. Nearly 29% have altered their journey plans however they’re considerably extra possible than US travellers to alter locations reasonably than cancel journeys. Nearly 14% of non-US travellers chosen a special vacation spot in contrast with 8% of US-based travellers. 

US-based travellers (52%) usually tend to depend on authorities journey advisories than these primarily based elsewhere (41%). Meanwhile, non-US-based travellers (28%) place extra emphasis on information experiences than these within the US (19%).  

Dan Richards, Chief Executive Officer of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board on the US Department of Commerce, mentioned: “Experienced travellers 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.” 

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

“Experienced travellers understand that informed destination selection is one of the most effective ways to reduce travel risk while still enjoying the world,” concluded Richards.

globalrescue.com