Concerns about protests, civil unrest and political tensions in the U.S. are influencing the travel decisions of a growing number of individuals, particularly among international travellers and younger respondents, according to the latest Global Rescue Summer 2025 Traveller Safety and Sentiment Survey.
More than half of respondents to the survey (52%) said their U.S. travel plans have not changed due to domestic unrest. However, international travellers are significantly more likely to avoid the U.S. for this reason. While only 1% of U.S.-based respondents cancelled travel within the U.S. due to unrest, nearly 12% of non-U.S. respondents have cancelled travel to or within the U.S.
“The data reflects a widening perception gap between how American and international travellers are responding to unrest and political instability in the U.S.,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies. “This disconnect underscores the importance of communication, transparency and safety preparedness for travellers and travel providers alike.”
The political climate in the U.S. is also playing a role. While 62% of all respondents said the political climate does not affect their travel plans, that number drops sharply to just 26% among non-U.S. respondents. Nearly 20% of international travellers say they are reconsidering future trips to the U.S. – 7 percentage points more than the global average and 12 points higher than U.S.-based respondents.
Young travellers under 35 were among the most responsive to political factors and civil unrest. Nearly 10% reported postponing U.S. travel due to political concerns – more than double the rate of those aged 55 and older. Additionally, 8% of respondents under 35 said they’ve cancelled U.S. travel plans entirely due to protests or unrest – compared to 4% of travellers aged 35–54 and only 3% of those 55 and older.
Overall, the most common adjustment was not traveling to U.S. destinations where protests are taking place, cited by 17% of respondents. Another 9% are considering changes but haven’t decided yet.
“These findings highlight the impact of domestic developments on inbound travel behaviour,” said Richards. “Maintaining trust, safety and situational awareness is vital to ensuring travellers feel secure – whether they’re visiting from abroad or exploring their own country.”
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