They say travel broadens the mind—but lately, it’s also stretching the budget, fraying nerves, and rearranging itineraries across the globe.
According to the Spring 2025 Traveller Sentiment and Safety Survey by Global Rescue, a respected leader in travel risk management, seasoned globetrotters are eyeing the calendar and wallet with growing unease. The culprit? A cocktail of shifting US policies and economic tea leaves that no one quite knows how to read.
A striking 83% of travellers—many of whom treat long-haul flights like casual commutes—now believe their journeys will cost more in 2025. Of those, nearly half didn’t hesitate—they ticked “definitely” when asked if travel would get dearer, while another 36% said “probably.” Like a half-packed suitcase in the hall, the message is clear: something’s up.
“Travellers are absolutely feeling the squeeze,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board member. “From spiking costs to shuffled itineraries, the signals from Washington are making people think twice before pressing ‘book now.’”
Dan Richards standing in operations room.
Still Packing, But With a Pause
But here’s the delightfully human thing, perhaps unshakeably Aussie: we’re resilient. Cancel the flight? Maybe. Cancel the dream? Not a chance.
According to the same survey, nearly two-thirds of respondents—64%, to be precise—haven’t canned their international plans despite mutterings of a looming recession. On the domestic front, 31% are keeping calm and carrying on, despite headlines that read more like storm warnings than travel guides.
“There’s a quiet grit among today’s travellers,” Richards noted. “They might be flying smarter, pushing trips back a season, or switching destinations—but the desire to explore, to connect, to experience something bigger than the backyard—well, that hasn’t gone anywhere.”
Rerouted Routes and Second Thoughts
That said, the map’s looking different these days. Fifty-five percent of those surveyed have changed the countries they plan to visit—some nudged by visa complications, others by geopolitical tension or the sheer unpredictability of policy. Another 34% have postponed their international travel entirely, while 24% have decided to stay grounded in 2025.
Even domestic travel hasn’t escaped unscathed. A more minor, but not insignificant, 5% said they wouldn’t be heading anywhere within their borders this year.
That’s not just a trend—it’s a tremor.
“With nearly half of travellers rethinking their international destinations because of American policy shifts, we’re looking at real-world consequences that affect everything from airline routes to hotel bookings,” said Richards. “It’s a reminder that tourism doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it’s stitched tightly to diplomacy, security, and trust.”
And stitched it is. The subtle recalibrations of holiday plans reflect financial caution and a growing sensitivity to global tides. In an era where one policy tweak can upend a flight path, it’s no wonder travellers are scanning headlines with more interest than the in-flight entertainment guide.
Policy with Passport Implications
As a long-time voice in global tourism strategy, Richards urges decision-makers to tread thoughtfully. The travel and tourism sector—already complex—relies on more than affordable fares. It needs confidence, clarity, and collaboration between nations.
“There’s no doubt that government policy matters,” he added. “But it must be balanced. We need an approach that protects borders and boosts economies without inadvertently discouraging the very movement that underpins international trade and understanding.”
Travel agents, airlines, and anyone else whose livelihood is buoyed by busy airports and full passports echo this sentiment. With uncertainty in the air, the industry is being called on to do what it does best—adapt, reassure, and advocate.
Not the End—Just a New Chapter
So, what does all this mean for the global traveller?
In short, we’re not done. We’re just doing it differently. Maybe the departure is delayed. Perhaps the destination is swapped. But the spirit—the curiosity, the courage, the hunger for the unfamiliar—that remains.
Travel, after all, isn’t just about distance covered. It’s about perspective gained. And if that means a few detours on the road ahead, then so be it.
Because in the words of every traveller who’s ever stood in an airport queue during a policy-induced delay: “We’ll get there—eventually.”
