More than half of travellers are unconcerned about natural disasters disrupting their travel plans, despite officials predicting up to five major hurricanes during the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season and nearly 40 per cent of the world’s most experienced travellers admitting they’ve already experienced trips interrupted by extreme weather events in the past.
According to the Spring 2025 Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey, half said they were concerned “a little” (20 per cent) or not concerned at all (32 per cent) about the effects of natural disasters on their future travel compared to 46 per cent of respondents who expressed concern ranging from “a great deal” (12 per cent) or “a lot” (12 per cent) to “a moderate amount” (22 per cent).
“Travellers are proceeding with their plans despite the risks of natural disasters. This is a testament to the resilience of the travel industry,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the US Department of Commerce.
“It’s an example of resilient traveller behaviour that’s also driving a 17 per cent jump in security memberships in the last quarter,” he added.
“Whether it’s smoke from a wildfire closing down a national park or flooding rerouting an entire itinerary, travellers are seeing real-world effects,” Richards said. “Even among those who don’t express concern, many are still experiencing the consequences firsthand.”
“As travel risks evolve – like natural disasters – proactive safety measures are no longer seen as a luxury but as a necessity for those navigating an unpredictable global landscape.”
With nearly half of travelers concerned about natural disasters disrupting their trips and the other half unswayed about the effects of disaster-related travel interruptions, Richards sees an opportunity for greater traveler education and preparation.
“Risk is now a permanent part of the travel landscape,” he said. “The solution is not to stop traveling—it’s to travel smarter. That means understanding local environmental conditions, monitoring government advisories and having emergency support systems in place.”
