Traveler fears are dwindling at the same time many are hoping to plan trips to countries currently listed by the U.S. Department of State as “Level 3 - Reconsider Travel.” As the travel rebound continues, traveler worries are shifting dramatically, and their appetite for exploring the world is increasing, according to recent research by Global Rescue.
As discovered in the summer 2023 “Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey,” traveler concerns about civil unrest and terrorism decreased by half in the last six months, withering from 14 to 7 percent since January. At the same time, apprehension about COVID exposure and infection while traveling has dramatically dropped at a rate of 88 percent, down to 4 percent—compared to 33 percent in August 2022.
Nearly half (48 percent) of travelers now claim their greatest anxiety is having an injury or accident, followed by trip cancelation (13 percent). Despite that, travelers are increasingly interested in visiting new destinations outside of the traditional ones. Prior to the pandemic, people were more content with traditional tourist attractions: Viewing the Mona Lisa in the Louvre and taking a River Seine cruise in Paris, visiting India’s Taj Mahal, or soaking up the sun on Guanabara Bay, Rio De Janeiro, during Carnival, were historically go-to vacation activities. Now, tourists have a growing enthusiasm for places beyond the traditional, some of which are “risky.”
Among the list of 20 countries with a Level 3 travel advisory, Egypt, Colombia, China and Hong Kong are the top four destinations the world’s most experienced travelers want to visit. Nigeria, El Salvador, Cote d'Ivoire and Niger were the least desirous places, according to the survey.
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