For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic, traveller fears about COVID are dramatically subsiding, according to the Global Rescue Fall 2022 Traveller Safety and Sentiment Survey, which says the biggest fear or concern about international travel among experienced travellers is having an injury or illness – but not a COVID-related illness.

Since August, apprehension about COVID dramatically dropped to 20% compared to 33% in late summer.

“Travel confidence is exploding in a positive direction. Borders are open, data reflects traveller volumes pushing past pre-pandemic levels for the first time in more than two years, and travel spending is at its highest since the pandemic started,” says Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue.

Today, a third of travellers (33%) said their biggest fear is suffering a non-COVID illness or injury followed by trip cancellation (13%), civil unrest (11%), being robbed (5%), natural disasters (3%) and nuclear attack (less than 1%).

The survey further revealed that escalating threats of international military action and ongoing natural disasters make travellers more likely to obtain travel security services. When war broke out between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022 more than a third of surveyed travellers started buying security evacuation protection. Nearly a year later, the war continues and more than half of travellers said they are more likely or much more likely to acquire travel security services.

“Travel uncertainty generally increases traveller demand for emergency medical and security services,” Richards said. “Between the war and the pandemic, travellers want medical and emergency response services more than ever.”

The survey of more than 1,000 current and former members of travel risk and crisis response provider Global Rescue was between Oct. 25 and 31, 2022. The respondents exposed a range of behaviours, attitudes and preferences regarding international and domestic travel.