The rumblings of revolution in travel are no longer the exclusive domain of lost luggage and fare hikes. Enter AI—the new co-pilot of the under-35 travel set. But if you ask the over-55s? Let’s say they’d sooner trust a paper map and a stranger’s opinion in Prague than an algorithm with a chatty tone.
That’s the sentiment in the Global Rescue Summer 2025 Traveller Safety and Sentiment Survey, which finds younger travellers leaping headlong into artificial intelligence (AI) while their older counterparts remain charmingly sceptical.
According to the survey, just 24% of all travellers have used AI tools to plan a trip. But beneath that figure lies a generational divide wide enough to fly a Boeing 777 through.
While 40% of those under 35 are happily outsourcing their itineraries to robots, only 20% of travellers over 55 are dipping even a toe in the algorithmic waters. Those in the middle—aged 35 to 54—fall somewhere in between at 34%, no doubt still debating whether “prompting” is a legitimate verb.
And it’s not just the young leading the charge—it’s the non-Americans, too. The survey found that travellers outside the US are 40% more likely to use AI tools than their Stars-and-Stripes-waving peers (30% vs 21%). Our friends abroad are more comfortable letting ChatGPT book the hotel than Cousin Joe from Michigan.
Itinerary First, Pasta Recommendations Second
Among those who have embraced AI’s digital compass, itinerary planning is the most popular application, with a decisive 75% using it to map out their travels. A respectable 71% use it for general research—presumably not to learn “how to ask for a toilet in Japanese,” but stranger things have happened.
Restaurant recommendations (37%) and translation assistance (25%) also see decent uptake, particularly among non-US travellers, who were 64% more likely than Americans to use AI for translation (34% vs 21%).
The under-35s, ever the digital natives, go further still. They’re nearly twice as likely to turn to AI for help booking accommodation (40% vs the 29% average), visa guidance (38% vs 19%), and even safety advice (35% vs 20%). They might not trust their government, but they’ll happily ask an AI what to do if a protest occurs in Paris.
Cautious Optimism (Emphasis on the “Cautious”)
Despite the technological flirtation, trust remains a fickle friend.
Just 7% of all respondents said they trust AI to provide accurate travel advice “almost always”. The majority (46%) trust it “most of the time,” and 40% admit to only trusting it “some of the time”,—which in travel terms is roughly equivalent to asking directions in Naples and then checking three more people just to be sure.
Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and member of the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, noted, “AI is transforming how travellers research and prepare for trips, and the next generation of globetrotters is embracing it fully. But adoption still depends on trust and reliability, especially in high-stakes situations.”
Indeed, when it comes to trusting AI in an emergency abroad, travellers are split like a souvlaki. A mere 30% said they’d put faith in the machines. 33% said no thanks, and 37%—rather sensibly—said they weren’t sure.
Ironically, those most confident in AI during an emergency were… the over-55s (29%). Meanwhile, 58% of under-35s, despite using AI the most, said they wouldn’t trust it in a pinch. Perhaps the younger generation believes in AI as a fun travel tool—just not the one you want calling the ambulance.
The Future: Human Touch Still Reigns Supreme
Despite this healthy scepticism, AI isn’t yet being booted from the departure lounge. 89% of respondents said they were either “very likely” or “likely” to use AI tools again on future trips. Once again, the under-35s led the charge, with 38% saying “very likely,” followed closely by the 35–54s at 36%.
Men were marginally more enthusiastic than women—33% versus 28% said “very likely”—though women were far more inclined to prefer good old-fashioned human travel advice.
When asked to choose between AI or humans for recommendations, only 4% preferred AI alone. Half wanted a blend of both. Women were 25% more likely than men to prefer human guidance (53% vs 43%), while non-US respondents were the most open to mixing the two (56% vs 48%).
The Takeaway: AI May Plot the Course, But Wisdom Still Packs the Bags
As AI lodges itself into the packing list alongside power adaptors and passport wallets, it’s clear that younger travellers are giving it a warm welcome—though perhaps not a complete set of spare keys yet.
Older travellers, meanwhile, continue to hold onto the time-tested charm of human interaction, a well-thumbed Lonely Planet, and the occasional philosophical chat with a hotel concierge named Enrique.
Whether you’re ready to trust AI with your travel dreams or just your dinner bookings, one thing is sure—2025 is the year the guidebook finally met its digital match.
By Jason Smith
