Concerned About Travel Safety Amid Global Geopolitical Instability? Safety Experts Offer Travel Tips

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 10:05 PM ET, Tue July 1, 2025

The ceasefire in the Middle East between Iran and Israel is approaching the one week mark, but international travelers remain on edge over the potential for instability in the region.

According to the 2025 Traveler Safety and Sentiment Survey conducted by Global Rescue, 78 percent of travelers said they’re either “very concerned” (23 percent) or “somewhat concerned” (55 percent) about the impact of geopolitical instability on their travel plans through the end of 2025. 

In other words, while the ceasefire may have eased immediate volatility or tensions between the two countries, traveler confidence has yet to be fully restored. What’s more, traveler concerns are not limited to the Middle East. The Global Rescue survey indicates travelers are also worried spending time in Mediterranean regions, as well as parts of Europe. 

“Even after a ceasefire, the impact on traveler psychology lingers,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue. “People are weighing risk more carefully, and safety continues to drive travel decisions.”

Those concerns however, have not proved strong enough to trigger widespread cancellation of travel plans.

Only 6 percent of travelers have scrapped or changed travel plans, according to the Global Rescue survey, but 12 percent indicated that they are delaying decisions until regional conditions stabilize further.

Separately, a significant 42 percent of travelers said they are actively avoiding specific countries, while 40 percent are monitoring the situation closely and may adjust travel plans depending on how events develop.

Safety concerns among travelers also vary by gender. For instance, more than one-third of women (35 percent) said they are “very concerned” about regional safety, which is nearly double the percentage of men  who expressed similar sentiments (19 percent).

Additionally,  more than half of women (52 percent) say they are actively avoiding specific countries, compared to 39 percent of men.

“Ceasefires help reduce immediate risk, but they don’t erase long-standing safety perceptions,” Richards said. “Women, in particular, remain highly aware of how geopolitical instability can affect their safety abroad.”

It’s also not just Americans experiencing worries about travel at the moment. Among U.S. travelers, 23 percent report being “very concerned” and 56 percent “somewhat concerned” about travel risks in the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Europe for the rest of 2025. The sentiment is nearly identical among non-U.S. travelers, with 23 percent “very concerned” and 55 percent “somewhat concerned,” the survey found.

Are current travel fears warranted?

Covac Global, a Florida-based intelligence, security, and crisis management company, has been deeply engaged in the recent crisis in the Middle East. The company evacuated dozens of clients from Israel in recent weeks and its CEO, Ross Caldwell Thompson, says there continues to be cause for concern in the Middle East, and beyond.

“In the coming days, weeks, and months, travel security must be taken seriously—not only in the region directly affected by the conflict, but also in areas with significant populations connected to the parties involved, particularly across Europe,” Caldwell Thompson told TravelPulse.

Covac Global is actively advising its clients to avoid “soft targets” around the world amid such geopolitical instability.

“Should Iran activate elements of its well-established global terror network, there may be little to no advance warning,” Caldwell Thompson explained. “Soft targets are likely to be prioritized, including synagogues, Jewish and Israeli cultural institutions, such as embassies, consulates, sporting events and museums, and specific neighborhoods.

Similarly, Gene Petrino, co-owner of Survival Response LLC, a company that trains organizations and individuals in situational awareness, travel risk mitigation, and critical incident response, says Americans are justified in feeling some trepidation about travel at the moment. Beyond Middle East tensions, there’s the potential for anti-American sentiment, as well as general terrorist incidents.

“The world is experiencing heightened tensions, and U.S. travelers can be targets of opportunity during periods of unrest or geopolitical instability,” said Petrino. “Caution is warranted, especially in regions experiencing conflict, anti-American sentiment, or terror threats.”

Petrino specifically recommends avoiding or carefully monitoring the situation in regions that are experiencing active conflict, have unstable governments, or elevated terror threat levels. That includes parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and areas in Eastern Europe, he said.

“But risk can exist anywhere—so it’s less about geography and more about staying informed,” Petrino explained.

Safety tips for international travel this summer

Experts largely agree that while it’s important to be aware of current conditions around the world, there’s no need to panic or to cancel summer vacations altogether. Instead, they suggest ensuring that you are especially well prepared for a trip in advance and remaining on alert while traveling.

Here are some of the ways experts suggest navigating travel more safely this summer and through the remainder of 2025.

• Heightened situational awareness While there are many smart travel practices that can be implemented, one of the most important lines of defense is maintaining situational awareness, say experts. “Staying informed of any changes to travel alerts, government warnings, and real-time news developments is essential,” Caldwell Thompson advises.

  Christina Tunnah, general manager, Americas, for World Nomads Travel Insurance offers similar advice.

  “Monitor local or global news whether it’s TV or a trusted or a trusted digital platform to just get what’s going on locally, because that’s really what’s happening,” suggests Tunnah.

• Be on alert for anything out of the ordinary while traveling

  Another element of situational awareness involves being alert to your surroundings while exploring during your travels.

  “It’s summer, so if you see someone hanging around in a public place wearing winter-like clothing they may be concealing a weapon or bomb,” says Caldwell Thompson. “Move away immediately and report it to law enforcement once a safe distance away.

• Avoid standing in lines in places that are overtly for Western tourists

  Popular places like The Vatican in Rome or the Louvre in Paris are plagued with crowds and lines, so it can be hard to avoid these types of environments altogether, but Caldwell Thompson advises doing so.

  “Buy a pass or expedited pass beforehand, so you can skip the line avoid this situation,” he says.

• Register with the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

  Prior to departing on your trip abroad, take the time to sign up for the State Department’s STEP program.

  The free program for U.S. citizens allows local U.S. embassies abroad to accurately and quickly contact American travelers in the event of an emergency.

  By signing up for the STEP program, you’ll also receive real time updates from the State Department about health, weather, safety, and security in the country you’re visiting. The sign-up process takes about 20 minutes.

• Go beyond the trip itinerary

  Do your homework before traveling and obtain as much information as possible in advance about the country or region you’ll be visiting.

  “Understand the political climate, current alerts from the U.S. State Department, and the emergency protocols of the country you’re visiting,” says Petrino.

  In addition, both Petrino and Caldwell Thompson suggest having a plan in place should communications go down or unrest flares up unexpectedly.

  “Americans should feel confident to travel, but having the right mindset and an emergency plan is key to a successful and productive trip,” says Caldwell Thompson.

Selecting the right travel insurance for geopolitical instability

If you’re
concerned or on edge about the geopolitical climate around the world
this summer, purchasing the appropriate travel insurance policy can be a
helpful way to hedge your bets against those fears.

But it’s
important to purchase the appropriate coverage. For instance, most
travel insurance policies do not cover travel costs or trip cancellation
expenses incurred because war breaks out in particular region, such as
what occurred between Iran and Israel.

Additionally, travel insurance
will not cover costs if you cancel a trip simply because you’re worried that such
events may occur again, says Tunnah. But it is possible to purchase a
policy with ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ or CFAR coverage, that will cover
such situations.

“Unless you purchase Cancel For Any Reason, your
policy does not cover fear of travel,” explains Tunnah. “That’s not
saying you’re not justified in being fearful, but it’s not a covered
reason.”

CFAR covers you for losses should you have to cancel a
trip for any reason and you are seeking to get reimbursed for
non-refundable trip expenses. “CFAR is what enables you to have that travel flexibility,” says Tunnah.

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