Geopolitical instability is having an increasingly significant impact on where Australians travel. New research has found half now consider the risk of terrorism or armed conflict an essential factor when choosing a holiday destination.
The findings come as wars and political instability around the world increasingly intersect with the travel industry, forcing travellers to weigh safety and security alongside the more traditional considerations of price, weather and destination appeal.
New data from travel insurance and assistance provider Redion, formerly Europ Assistance, found a record 50 per cent of Australian travellers now consider the risk of terrorism or armed conflict an essential factor in deciding where to travel.
The 2026 Holiday Barometer, which surveyed 26,000 people across 26 countries, also found 57 per cent of Australians said wars and armed conflicts around the world were affecting their desire to travel – suggesting the impact is extending beyond destinations directly involved in conflict.
Among Australians who chose not to travel at all, nine per cent cited safety and security concerns.
“World events are now factoring into individual decisions at a level we haven’t seen before and it’s reshaping not just where people go, but whether they go at all,” Redion Australia and New Zealand CEO Justin Sebire said.
Geopolitics becomes a travel consideration
The findings point to a changing environment for the travel industry, where geopolitical developments thousands of kilometres away can influence consumer confidence and booking behaviour.
However, uncertainty does not appear to have extinguished the appetite for travel.
Globally, eight in 10 travellers surveyed remain enthusiastic about taking a trip this year, despite geopolitical uncertainty and continuing cost-of-living pressures.
“Building on the record levels seen last year, the desire to travel remains strong and undiminished, despite tougher trade-offs and the cost of living remaining a top global concern,” Redion Group CEO Travel Insurance & Assistance Virginie Babinet said.
“What is changing, however, is the travel landscape itself. Security considerations are weighing more heavily on destination choices, with decisions increasingly shaped by risk considerations.”
For travel advisors and operators, that shift could mean safety conversations increasingly happen before a destination is selected rather than after an itinerary has been built.
It is also increasing the importance of flexibility, reliable destination information and the ability to respond quickly when circumstances change.
“Trust becomes more critical than ever in periods of uncertainty, particularly at a time when the travel industry is facing volatility,” Sebire said.
“Customers are leaning more heavily on expert advice, itinerary flexibility and real-time support.”
The findings suggest geopolitical instability may not necessarily stop Australians travelling altogether. Instead, it could increasingly determine where they travel, as consumers steer towards destinations they perceive as safer and seek greater reassurance before committing to a trip.
For an industry accustomed to selling travellers on scenery, experiences and price, geopolitics is becoming another increasingly difficult factor to ignore.
