Concerns about protests, civil unrest and political tensions in the United States are influencing the travel decisions of a growing number of individuals, particularly among international travelers and younger respondents, according to the latest Global Rescue Summer 2025 Traveler Safety and Sentiment Survey.

More than half of respondents (52%) said their US travel plans have not changed due to domestic unrest. However, international travelers are significantly more likely to avoid the US for this reason. While only 1% of US-based respondents canceled travel within the US due to unrest, nearly 12% of non-US respondents have canceled travel to or within the US.

“The data reflects a widening perception gap between how American and international travelers are responding to unrest and political instability in the US,” 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. “This disconnect underscores the importance of communication, transparency and safety preparedness for travelers and travel providers alike.”

The political climate in the US 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-US respondents. Nearly 20% of international travelers say they are reconsidering future trips to the US—7 percentage points more than the global average and 12 points higher than US-based respondents.

Young travelers under 35 were among the most responsive to political factors and civil unrest. Nearly 10% reported postponing US 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 canceled US travel plans entirely due to protests or unrest—compared to 4% of travelers aged 35–54 and only 3% of those 55 and older.

Overall, the most common adjustment was not traveling to US 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 behavior,” said Richards. “Maintaining trust, safety and situational awareness is vital to ensuring travelers feel secure—whether they’re visiting from abroad or exploring their own country.”