Travelers have long embraced international travel and exotic escapes. According to a recent Global Rescue survey, this bond isn’t weakening—it’s deepening. In 2025, travel was a higher priority for 41% of global wanderers compared to 2024, with only 9% placing less importance on it. For most, travel isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.
In an age when material indulgences are losing their lustre, 65% of travellers said they value international experiences over acquiring possessions. The numbers are striking: 75% prioritize travel over a new smartphone, 74% over a car, 88% over a wardrobe, and 89% over expensive jewellery. Even a second home or a home remodel doesn’t hold a candle to the allure of border-crossing adventures, with only 38% valuing real estate over real experiences.
Luxury brands may feel the pinch—new luxury car sales are slowing, second home purchases have dipped to a six-year low, and jewellery sales are sliding—but travel is surging. 2024 was a record-breaking year for international travel, and 2025 looks poised to surpass it. Passport stamps, traditional or digital, are the new status symbols.
But behind the breathtaking vistas and vibrant city streets lies a stark contradiction. As travellers express rising concern over health emergencies abroad, few prepare for them.
Surveys reveal that 50% of travellers claim that safety is their top priority when choosing a destination, yet only half (51%) take the time to research the quality of medical care available in those destinations. That means nearly half of the travellers go abroad without knowing what kind of emergency care is accessible—or whether it’s available at all.
This blind spot could have serious consequences. According to the same survey, 35% of travellers cite a major health issue as the most common trip-ending disruption. Yet rather than let that statistic steer planning behaviour, many travellers continue to fly by the seat of their pants, emotionally prioritizing safety while neglecting practical preparation.
It’s not that travellers are unaware of the risks—many seem hyper-aware. But there’s a disconnect between concern and action—a classic case of cognitive dissonance. People crave control over their experiences, yet many seem willing to gamble with their health abroad.
Why? Because the love affair with travel is powerful. It’s romantic, adventurous, and emotional. It speaks to freedom, exploration, and a desire to grow beyond one’s borders. Planning for injury or illness feels like a damper on that spirit. But failing to prepare doesn’t prevent risk—it compounds it.
There’s a better way.
Savvy travellers can maintain spontaneity while making informed choices. A few simple habits—researching local healthcare infrastructure, checking the availability of English-speaking medical providers, buying travel insurance with robust medical coverage, and knowing emergency numbers—can turn a reactive crisis into a managed incident.
Ultimately, the traveller’s love affair with the road will continue. But like any lasting romance, it benefits from grounded reality. Chasing memories across borders doesn’t mean ignoring the risks that come with them. It means meeting those risks with knowledge, preparedness, and enough caution to ensure the journey continues.
Written by: Jeff Weinstein
BIO:
Jeff Weinstein is a medical operations manager at Global Rescue, with 18 years of combined experience in emergency and disaster response, critical care paramedicine, and emergency management. With specialty training in austere medicine and mountain rescue from The School of Medicine at UNM, and is a Certified Wilderness Paramedic (WP-C) from the International Board of Specialty Certifications (IBSC).
