Business travel and risk
Business travellers are feeling less safe than they did a year ago, with global instability continuing to influence travel decisions. We discuss why duty of care and travel risk management are now more important than ever.
A new survey has highlighted how business travellers feel less safe than they did a year ago.
Travel risk and crisis response specialist Global Rescue surveyed more than 1,200 current and former members in April, with the results painting a clear picture of how attitudes towards travel safety are changing.
The findings from the Spring 2026 Global Rescue Traveller Sentiment and Safety Survey suggest that elevated risk is now seen as part of modern travel rather than a temporary concern. Just 1% of travellers surveyed said they feel less concerned about their personal safety when travelling internationally compared with 2025. Meanwhile, 56% said they are either more concerned or much more concerned, while 42% reported their concerns remain unchanged.
Dan Richards, Chief Executive Officer of The Global Rescue Companies, said the results reflect a growing acceptance that global instability is now part of the travel landscape. He explained that while some travellers believe conditions are worsening, others simply feel risks remain consistently high, with very few believing the world has become safer.
Travellers continue to be influenced by a range of global events, including ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine and rising cartel-related violence in parts of Mexico. These issues, combined with wider geopolitical uncertainty, are shaping how both leisure and corporate travellers approach international trips.
The survey also highlighted differences in perception between groups. Women reported higher levels of concern than men, with 61% saying they feel more worried about travelling internationally, compared with 53% of male respondents. Geography also plays a role. Among travellers based in the United States, 56% reported increased concern, closely matching the global average, while 52% of non-US respondents said the same.
Richards added that these similar concern levels should not be mistaken for confidence. When almost half of travellers say their concerns have stayed the same, and virtually nobody says they have decreased, it suggests heightened risk has become the accepted norm for international travel.
For businesses, the findings reinforce the importance of a strong travel risk management strategy. Duty of care is no longer simply a compliance exercise. Travellers increasingly expect clear communication, real time support and reassurance that their employer has robust plans in place should disruption occur.
