It appears international travelers are reshaping where they
go and where they won’t in 2026.
Data from the Global Rescue Spring 2026 Traveler Sentiment
Survey revealed travelers are avoiding
regions tied to active conflict, geopolitical instability and persistent
security risks. Gender and geographic divides also play a part in levels of
concern.
Findings revealed that nearly 73% of travelers are avoiding
countries in the Middle East adjacent to Israel, Syria and Iran. Pakistan follows
at 50% and along with African nations near conflict zones such as Sudan, Libya
and Somalia (45%). Central European countries bordering Russia and Ukraine are
also being 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 in a statement. “Active conflicts
and geopolitical instability are directly influencing where people are willing
to go.”
Beyond war zones, travelers are evading regions associated
with crime, instability and governance concerns. Almost 33% are steering
clear of Mexico and 31% are avoiding parts of South and Central America
near Venezuela, Honduras, Guatemala and Columbia. Caribbean destinations near
Haiti, Cuba and Jamaica show a 23% avoidance rate and India follows at 20%.
In contrast, fewer than 2% of travelers are avoiding
traditional low-risk regions such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The data also showed a consistent pattern of higher risk sensitivity
among female travelers, especially in regions with conflict and 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%).
Differences, however, are narrower in destinations such as
Mexico and the Caribbean, where avoidance rates between men and women are
relatively aligned.
“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.”
Geography plays a defining role in travel assessment risk. US-based
respondents are significantly more likely to bypass 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%).
One of the most pronounced perception gaps in the data reveals
that non-US-based travelers are far more likely to avoid the United States,
with 31% indicating avoidance compared to less than 1% of US-based respondents.
According to Richards, “This is a clear example of how risk
perception is shaped by perspective and proximity. What feels familiar to one
group may feel uncertain or risky to another.”
Rather than avoiding international travel altogether, the
data shows travelers are actively managing risk through destination selection. “Travelers
are not standing still —they’re adapting,” Richards said.
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