International travel remains remarkably resilient in 2026, but a new survey suggests traveller confidence is becoming increasingly fragmented, with gender, geography and risk perception playing a bigger role in travel decisions than ever before.
The Spring 2026 Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey, which polled more than 1,100 experienced travellers, found that 70 per cent are continuing to travel internationally as planned. However, beneath that solid headline figure, attitudes are shifting.
Around 16 per cent of respondents said they are taking a “wait-and-see” approach before booking future international trips, while 9 per cent are opting for domestic holidays instead and 5 per cent have shelved travel plans altogether.
“Travellers are still going abroad, but they’re not thinking about travel the same way,” Global Rescue Companies CEO Dan Richards said. “Underneath strong demand, there are clear differences in confidence, risk tolerance and decision-making across demographics.”
Geopolitical instability has overtaken cost as the leading factor driving travel hesitation, with 37 per cent of those delaying or avoiding overseas trips citing global tensions as their primary concern.
Women more cautious
Women appear significantly more concerned about geopolitical risks than men, with 47 per cent identifying instability as their biggest issue compared to 35 per cent of male respondents. Cost ranked a distant second overall at 15 per cent, although financial pressures were notably higher among non-US-based travellers.
The survey also highlighted contrasting decision-making styles between male and female travellers. While international travel participation rates are almost identical, men are more likely to express uncertainty about future trips. Twenty-eight per cent said they were unsure about returning to international travel within the next year, compared with 14 per cent of women.
Women, meanwhile, were more likely to say their travel plans depend on how circumstances evolve, suggesting a more measured approach to risk assessment.
Regional differences were equally evident. Non-US-based travellers demonstrated stronger intent to return to international travel over the next 12 months, while US-based respondents were more likely to substitute overseas holidays with domestic travel options.
Maintaining travel habits
Despite growing caution, most travellers are maintaining their travel habits. Nearly 58 per cent said their travel behaviour has remained unchanged from previous years, while 9 per cent reported travelling more.
Looking ahead, 63 per cent of respondents said they were very or somewhat likely to take international trips within the next year.
“The survey makes clear that confidence is no longer uniform,” Richards said. “Instead, it is shaped by a combination of geopolitical awareness, economic pressures and individual risk tolerance, with meaningful differences across gender and geography.”
“International travel demand is intact, but it’s more conditional than it was in the past,” he added. “Travelers are making more informed, more deliberate decisions, and those decisions vary significantly depending on who they are and where they’re based.”
