(Lebanon, N.H. – November 27, 2023) The travel rebound continues as travel volumes break records. More than 80% of the world’s most experienced travelers took as many or more trips in 2023 than at any time before the pandemic, according to the Global Rescue Fall Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. More than a third of respondents (35%) said they traveled more in 2023 than any time before the pandemic. Nearly half (48%) said they traveled about the same amount and less than a fifth (17%) traveled less.

The enduring travel recovery is welcome news for the travel industry, and travel continues to surpass pre-pandemic travel levels. “Adventure travel, luxury travel and other activity-focused segments continue to see strong growth. Many places are at capacity or are over-subscribed and have waiting lists,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services, and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Despite rising travel costs, airline flight disruptions and travel staff shortages, most survey respondents (66%) did not cancel any trips in 2023 and more than a third (38%) did not postpone any travel plans. Fewer than 5% of survey respondents said they had to cancel at least one trip due to rising travel costs and fewer than a tenth (9%) had to postpone a trip.

Experts predicted the travel rebound could lead to crowding at popular destinations, limited flights and lodging availability. More than half of survey respondents (58%) did not encounter any sold-out occurrences for any of their trips. However, nearly a third (30%) said they were prevented at least once from booking something because it was sold out. Fewer than a tenth (7%) said they missed out on a booking three times or more.

For most travelers responding to the survey (67%), it was a flight that was sold out. Fewer than half (41%) of respondents said it was lodging that was unavailable. Fewer than a fifth (16%) said restaurants were unavailable.

The bullwhip effect may help reverse rising travel costs and increase flight and lodging availability. “Where previously ordered but undelivered supply like airplanes, buses and trained labor finally arrive in a market with tepid demand, falling prices will result,” Richards said.

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 2,300 of its current and former members from October 5-12, 2023. The respondents revealed a variety of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding current and future travel.

About Global Rescue

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.