New Study Reveals Impact of U.S. Policies on International Travel Choices

New research from the Global Rescue Traveller Sentiment and Safety Survey has revealed that international travellers are split on how U.S. foreign policy and political tensions are influencing their travel decisions — with non-U.S. respondents far more likely than Americans to alter their plans.

According to the survey, nearly one in four non-U.S. travellers (23%) said that recent U.S. international policy announcements have already prompted them to change destinations or cancel upcoming trips.

That figure is more than double the rate of American respondents (10%), highlighting a clear divide in perception and response to U.S. policy shifts.

“Travellers outside the United States are clearly more reactive to US international policies than Americans themselves,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the US Department of Commerce. “For many international travellers, geopolitical decisions and perceived instability are meaningful factors in whether, where and how they travel.” 

The study found a widening divide in how global travellers — particularly women and non-U.S. respondents — are adjusting their plans in response to U.S. international policies and domestic unrest.

Less than 30% of non-U.S. respondents said their plans to visit the U.S. remain unchanged, while nearly one in five (18%) reported postponing or canceling trips altogether. In contrast, 70% of American travellers said protests and unrest have not affected their travel decisions.

When asked how their travel plans have changed, 22% of non-U.S. respondents said they are altering which countries or cities they plan to visit, compared to just 12% of Americans. Women were also more likely than men to make changes, with 16% considering adjustments versus 10% of male respondents.

The perception gap goes beyond travel statistics. Nearly two-thirds of women (65%) believe Americans will be viewed more negatively abroad over the next year, compared to 59% of men. A majority of both U.S. and non-U.S. travellers shared this sentiment, but concern was strongest among Americans themselves (61%), reflecting growing unease about global perceptions.

Despite these concerns, most respondents indicated that their overall likelihood to travel remains steady, with 63% saying they are “neither more nor less likely” to travel due to recent U.S. policy developments. However, international travellers expressed greater caution — nearly 14% said they are “much less likely” to travel, compared to just 2% of U.S. travellers.

“Perceptions of safety and political stability are deeply personal and can differ sharply across borders,” Richards said. “For international travellers, US domestic unrest and global policy shifts appear to have a more direct effect on confidence and behaviour than they do for Americans themselves.”