(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.