Recent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, travel sentiment is merely shaken, not stirred, according to the Global Rescue Summer 2025 Traveller Safety and Sentiment Survey. Regardless of age, gender, or nationality, the overwhelming majority of travellers surveyed remain unfazed by natural disasters – although a cautious minority is selectively avoiding certain high-risk destinations.
After the Santorini, Greece, earthquakes earlier this year, nearly nine out of 10 travellers said the incident had no effect on their willingness to visit destinations in active earthquake zones. A similar pattern emerged around volcanic activity. When asked if the Mount Etna and Lewotobi Laki Laki eruptions made them less willing to visit volcano sites, most travellers said no.
“The data shows that earthquakes and eruptions are not deterring most travellers,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies. “But for a small group of travellers, concerns about environmental risk are real – and they’re choosing destinations more carefully as a result.”
Among travellers who said they are reconsidering trips to destinations in earthquake zones, Kathmandu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tokyo and Kyoto lead the list.
By contrast, destinations in earthquake zone with the least concern among travellers include Vancouver, Auckland, Wellington and Santiago.
Volcanos
Age played a modest role in shaping reactions. Travellers under 35 years old were more than twice as likely to say they were “much less willing” to visit volcano sites (7%) compared to older travellers.
Gender differences were also notable. Women were 44% more likely than men to say they were “a little less willing” to visit volcano sites (17% vs. 11%).
For travel to destinations in earthquake zones, nearly twice as many women said they would avoid Kathmandu compared to men (7% vs 4%), 50% more women would avoid Manila compared to men, and 25% more women would bypass Tokyo/Kyoto compared to men.
“Despite these distinctions, the overarching trend is clear: the vast majority of travellers are not letting isolated natural disasters derail their travel plans,” Richards said.
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