(Lebanon, NH – May 5, 2025) — While solo travel remains popular and empowering for many, safety remains a top concern—especially when choosing destinations and accommodations. According to the Global Rescue Spring 2025 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey of the world’s most experienced travelers.

“Solo travel is on the rise, but so is traveler vigilance,” 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. “Travelers are prioritizing situational awareness and taking concrete steps to protect themselves when they venture out alone.”

The survey revealed that nearly one in three travelers (33%) have been victims of theft, scams or other crimes while abroad. Despite this, solo travel continues to appeal, with 65% of respondents reporting they usually feel safe traveling alone in most destinations.

Traveler destination choices are heavily influenced by safety concerns in the area. Nearly half (45%) of respondents said crime levels are a key decision factor when choosing where to travel “almost always” or “most of the time”, while 41% said safety concerns only “sometimes” impact their destination choices.

“The majority of travelers seriously consider safety issues when deciding where to go. That’s a huge factor in how travel trends are developing, especially for solo adventurers,” Richards said.

Among solo travelers, safety precautions are wide ranging. Overwhelmingly, solo travelers (93%) say always remaining situationally aware of their surroundings is the leading behavior for personal safety. Eight out of 10 (78%) respondents say dressing conservatively or modestly to blend in with the destination’s cultural norms is an essential safety practice along with hiring reputable drivers or taxis (68%). Many solo travelers also prioritize lodging with 24-hour security (44%) or hotel elevators with keycard access (33%).

When it comes to protecting valuables, travelers rely on multiple tactics including using zippered pockets (65%), separating and securing valuables (61%), using RFID-blocking products (52%) and money belts or travel wallets (49%).

Despite all these efforts, 38% of respondents have avoided certain countries altogether due to safety concerns when traveling alone. The top countries avoided were Mexico, Egypt, Turkey and China.

“These results underscore how safety not only shapes traveler behavior—it redirects tourism flows around the globe,” Richards explained. “This is a call to action for destinations to enhance infrastructure and invest in solo traveler-friendly experiences that inspire confidence without compromising on culture or adventure.”

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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 1,100 current and former members between April 8-12, 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.