(Lebanon, N.H. – March 3, 2025) – Despite widespread concern about safety and major health issues, international travelers continue to flock to remote and high-risk destinations—often without checking the quality of emergency medical care available. The most common trip-ending problems are major health issues (35%), according to the Global Rescue Winter 2025 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. Half of surveyed travelers identified “safety” as their top priority when selecting an international destination—significantly higher than “cost” (19%), “weather” (15%), or “convenience” (13%).

Yet, while travelers overwhelmingly recognize major health issues as the most significant threats, and half claim safety is most important when choosing a destination, only half (51%) take the time to research the quality of medical care available at their destinations.

“It’s an alarming attitude given that more than one in five surveyed travelers (22%) reported needing emergency medical care while abroad,” 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. “Travelers often assume they are prepared for the unexpected, yet paradoxically, the data suggests that few travelers take the necessary precautions to ensure their health and safety abroad,” he added.

The survey also revealed that many travelers seek out remote or high-adventure destinations. More than half of travelers (59%) said they are not planning to visit more risky destinations in 2025 compared to past years, but a fifth (22%) are actively planning such trips, and another 19% remain undecided.

“With a significant portion of travelers venturing into remote regions or booking riskier adventures, the importance of knowing the availability of emergency medical care cannot be overstated,” Richards said. “The data suggests that travelers equate safety with crime rates and political stability but overlook the equally critical aspect of emergency medical infrastructure,” he added.

Travelers should obtain destination reports covering everything from travel health and personal security advice to currency and common scams before taking a trip, especially to a foreign country. A Global Rescue destination report provides travelers with critical information about the healthcare landscape of their chosen destination, including details on local hospitals, the quality of care, potential health risks, and recommended vaccinations. They provide insights into language barriers, accessibility to specialized treatments, and region-specific health concerns.

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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 1,300 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.