NEWS

(Lebanon, N.H. – February 10, 2025) – The overwhelming majority of travelers prioritize international travel experiences over material possessions, according to the Global Rescue Winter 2025 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. Only 9% of travelers said travel is a lower priority for them in 2025 compared to 2024, while 41% said travel is a higher priority. Half of the respondents indicated that travel remains as important to them in 2025 as it was in 2024.

Sixty-five percent of travelers said international travel experiences are more important than acquiring material possessions. Specifically, respondents view travel as more important than purchasing a new smartphone (75%), a new or additional car (74%), expensive jewelry (89%), a new wardrobe (88%), or even a second home or home remodel (62%).

"Luxury material possessions are taking a backseat to passport stamps and unforgettable adventures," said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board member at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

"New luxury car sales are experiencing a significant slowdown, second home sales have fallen to a six-year low, and jewelry purchases are down—yet 2024 was a record-breaking year for international travel, and 2025 may be even bigger. "Chasing memories across borders has replaced chasing possessions at home," Richards said.

Travelers also believe the travel industry will continue to surge. Most (61%) anticipate that travel will grow beyond pre-pandemic levels, while 25% expect the sector to recover and stabilize fully. Only 5% of respondents believe the travel industry will not fully recover.

For more information, contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or +1 202.560.1195. 

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey  

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 1,300 current and former members between January 21-27, 2025. The respondents revealed a variety of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding current and future travel. 

About Global Rescue  

Global Rescue is 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. 

(Lebanon, N.H. – February 5, 2025) Global Rescue is closely monitoring the aftermath of the hundreds of earthquakes measuring between magnitude 3 and magnitude 5 that have struck the volcanic Greek island of Santorini since the weekend. "Global Rescue medical and security operations personnel are monitoring the ongoing situation and are prepared to assist in recovery and evacuation efforts," said Dan Richards, CEO of the Global Rescue Companies, the world's leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel, risk management services.

Unpredictable natural disasters, such as earthquakes, can strike without warning. Most come from two regions: the Circum-Pacific Belt and the Alpide Belt, an active seismic path running through the Mediterranean and Santorini, a volcanic island in Greece. The Alpide Belt accounts for about 17% of the world's most powerful quakes.

"Global Rescue responded to earthquake-stricken Haiti and Nepal in the past, deploying emergency personnel to the region and actively engaged on the ground conducting rescue operations, providing intelligence to travelers in the region to ensure their safety, and coordinating airborne resources for evacuations of individuals impacted by the catastrophe," Richards said.

Thousands of travelers and residents are evacuating the region by air and watercraft.

Global Rescue advises travelers to ensure their passport, identification, and necessary travel documents are readily accessible. Additionally, they should evacuate sooner rather than later. If authorities issue an evacuation order, follow it promptly. Delaying evacuation can lead to being trapped, cut off from necessary resources or rescue efforts, and exposed to greater danger. Individuals should not solely rely on technology for information and communication since power outages or damaged infrastructure can render technology useless.

"Keep your devices charged. Power could go out for days, weeks or months. It all depends on the local infrastructure," said Harding Bush, a former Navy SEAL and associate director of security for Global Rescue.  "Readiness, swift action and alert decision-making are core characteristics to manage catastrophic situations successfully."

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.   

(Lebanon, N.H. – February 3, 2025) – Travelers in 2025 are redefining their priorities based on conditions at specific destinations. Some countries struggle with overtourism. Other countries are actively trying to attract more tourists by promoting easier entry processes.

According to the Global Rescue Winter 2025 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey, three out of four travelers (73%) expressed concerns about overtourism, and a third (33%) reported encountering it firsthand in 2024. In response, more than half of travelers (53%) are intentionally avoiding overcrowded destinations such as France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Peru. Yet, these countries still draw some traveler interest with 16% of travelers planning trips to Italy, 15% to Spain, and 14% to France.

Meanwhile, destinations like Morocco, Kenya, Wales, Egypt, Cambodia, India and Taiwan are actively trying to attract more tourists by promoting easier entry processes, and travelers are responding. Nearly 10% of travelers are planning to visit Morocco, followed by Kenya (8%) and Wales (7%). Of the other countries easing international traveler entry policies, respondents are planning trips to Egypt (7%), Cambodia and India (6% each), and Taiwan (5%).

“The tourism industry is at a pivotal moment," said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce. “Overtourism weakens destinations by straining infrastructure and depleting resources, leaving them ill-equipped to handle traveler and resident crises.”

Government leaders have the power to mitigate these dangers. “Implementing visitor caps, promotion of off-peak travel, and targeted investments in tourism infrastructure are critical to easing the burden on high-traffic destinations,” Richards said.

As global tourism continues to expand, the urgency for proactive destination management has never been greater. "Travelers and policymakers share a responsibility to ensure that tourism remains a force for good—driving economic growth, preserving cultural heritage, and safeguarding the environment,” he added.

For more information contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or +1 202.560.1195.   

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey    

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 1,300 current and former members between January 21-27, 2025. The respondents revealed a variety of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding current and future travel.    

About Global Rescue    

Global Rescue is 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.   

(Lebanon, N.H. – January 27, 2025) – The Northern Lights, Kenya Safaris and the Galapagos Islands are the leading dream destinations or attractions for 2025 that the world's most experienced travelers want to experience but haven't, according to results of the Global Rescue Winter 2025 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.

"Travelers continue to seek more immersive travel experiences, like witnessing the Northern Lights, going on a safari in Kenya or experiencing the evolutionary significance of the Galapagos Islands," 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.

While both genders prioritize the Northern Lights and the Galapagos Islands, women list the blooming of Cherry Blossoms in Japan as their top choice followed by the Northern Lights and the Galapagos Islands. Men selected a safari in Kenya after the Northern Lights and ahead of the Galapagos Islands. They listed the blooming of the Cherry Blossoms in Japan sixth.

Following their top aspirational experiences, travelers dreamed about visiting the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Machu Picchu in Peru, the Great Pyramids of Giza, and the Great Wall of China.

At the other end of the spectrum, travelers reported they are least interested in the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, spending New Year's Eve in New York City, and visiting the Colosseum in Italy, signaling a shift toward more unique and nature-focused travel adventures.

"Travelers are evolving beyond superficial experiences and, instead, seek the authenticity of natural phenomena like the Northern Lights, the connection to the unique ecosystem in the Galapagos Islands, and the wildlife adventure of a safari," Richards said.

"The availability of effective, reliable traveler protection helps make immersive travel experiences that allow individuals to engage deeply with local cultures, environments, and communities possible, especially in remote regions where access to communication, first responders, and medical resources is limited compared to more developed and popular destinations."

For more information contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or +1 202.560.1195.  

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey   

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 1,300 current and former members between January 21-27, 2025. The respondents revealed a variety of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding current and future travel.   

About Global Rescue   

Global Rescue is 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.