Hackers. Thieves. Infectious diseases.

Those are the top security threats in 2025, according to experts.

“Right now, there’s a lot of uncertainty regarding travel security,” says Joe Cronin, CEO of International Citizens Insurance.

Even the professionals are getting nervous. Safety concerns are one of the main reasons business travellers decline a business trip, according to the latest SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey.

It will be an interesting year to be on the road, say security professionals. And by “interesting” they mean “dangerous.”

So, let’s talk about the new safety problems in 2025 and how to travel safely next year. I’ll also tell you how I’m preparing for one of the most uncertain years since the pandemic.

What are the new safety threats in 2025?

Security experts say the coming year will bring new threats.

• Cybersecurity. “It’s a top concern,” says Shaun Boulter, global head of operations and security for AXA Partners. “Our travelers and clients are increasingly requesting advice on how to protect themselves.” And for good reason. This year, cybersecurity was one of the hottest topics — and concerns — as hackers breached businesses and political campaign operations. Boulter says education is the key to averting a disaster: Travelers should take proactive steps like ensuring their digital security is up to date with VPNs and strong passwords.

• Violence against tourists. “In numerous countries that are seen as very attractive travel destinations – in Europe and elsewhere – there have been numerous protests against tourism,” says Brittany Lewis, a security operations supervisor at Travel Guard. Her team has seen tourists being targeted, “and we’ve even heard directly from customers who have experienced harassment in various locations.” Lewis says the trend is likely to continue in 2025.
• New infectious diseases. “Health risks are changing with newer strains of COVID-19 emerging,” says Michael Sheridan, who teaches at Temple University’s Japan campus. He’s right; in late 2024, COVID-19 cases started to climb as the flu season began. Sheridan recommends checking with your primary care physician or local pharmacy for a dose of the latest vaccine to help protect you from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Cronin, the CEO of International Citizens Insurance, has been monitoring political unrest in the past few months that may affect travellers. That includes rising tensions in the Middle East and election-related violence in other places, including the United States. He sees that continuing into 2025.

He says the best way of avoiding such uncertainty is to review the travel advisories issued by the U.S. State Department and then plan accordingly.

Here’s how to travel safer in 2025.

Let’s state the obvious. If you want to be safe in 2025, stay home. The world has always been dangerous, and it’s not getting any safer. However, according to the pros, there are ways to mitigate some of the risks.

Make sure your travel insurance covers safety problems.

Look for comprehensive coverage that includes trip cancellation, medical evacuation and protection against natural disasters and political unrest. “Prepare for the unexpected,” advises Raymond Yorke, a spokesman for Redpoint Travel Protection, a travel insurance company. That means running a worst-case scenario before you travel and ensuring you’re covered for any event.

Work with someone who has your back.

That means working with a professional travel advisor or a company that handles travel risk mitigation. And don’t let them send you a link to more safety resources. Susan Sherren, who runs Couture Trips, offers her clients a pre-travel Zoom session shortly before their departure dates. The added information and frank discussion about crime help set expectations. “Our clients leave their homes with a proactive mindset,” she says. And that has helped them avoid trouble.

Mind your computer.

It’s not just the usual cyber threats that have experts worried. Artificial intelligence does, too. “The proliferation of AI is an impending threat,” says Harding Bush, an associate director of security for Global Rescue. The reason: Tech scams, including deepfake cons, identity impersonation, and misleading travel advice from bots, can put travellers in danger, especially when they’re booking their trips or managing their itineraries.

This is the year to play it safe with international travel.

John Rose, the chief risk and security officer at ALTOUR, says the geopolitical situation has him worried the most. “It’s the larger risk,” he says. “It’s not just the election cycles that happened or will happen worldwide, but its conflicts.” Rose says you must be “very, very careful” when planning a trip in 2025 to account for the volatile geopolitical situation. In other words, 2025 may be the year to play it safer when it comes to travel security — especially when it comes to international travel.

Where are the hotspots? Robert Siciliano, CEO of ProtectNowLLC.com, showed me the map. It includes the Middle East, Ukraine, Venezuela and Taiwan. And, of course, there’s the unpredictability of U.S. politics, too.

“Now more than ever it’s important to have a broader awareness and pay special attention to the countries’ views towards Americans,” he added.

There are real-time risk assessment tools that can help. For example, World Travel Protection’s Travel Assist Management Portal and Travel Assist App offer customers real-time updates on security risks, natural disasters, and health threats.

Is it too dangerous to travel in 2025?

I’ve been planning out my 2025 trips. And I admit, there was a point when I thought it might make sense to avoid certain parts of the world, if not stay home.

I’ve also been fielding questions from nervous travellers on my consumer advocacy site, who have asked: Is it safe to go there? Is it safe to go anywhere?

I can’t afford to stop travelling, even if some destinations are not precisely State Department Level 1-certified. I spent some time in the Middle East during Thanksgiving and’ll be in Southeast Asia this winter. I’ll have to watch my back in some of the places on my itinerary.

But if I could afford to stop, would I?

After asking the experts, I have a pretty good idea of what awaits me. Yes, travel will be dangerous in 2025. But it’s not too risky if you plan, do your homework, and pay close attention to the new threats.

As the president of Concur Travel at SAP Concur, Charlie Sultan, told me, “It’s impossible to eliminate travel-related risks.”

That’s true of travel in any year.

 

 

 

Written by: Christopher Elliott

 

 

BIO:
Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@elliott.org.

 

 

 

 

 

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