by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 10:45 AM ET, Tue July 21, 2026
Travelers who are experienced with traveling internationally are continuing to visit other countries with few changes to their plans, despite increases in travel expenses, according to the newest Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey from Global Rescue.
The survey, conducted from late June through early July, found that 71% of experienced international travelers have not changed their international travel plans this year due to high costs. This number is 73% when looking solely at American travelers, compared with 65% of travelers not living within the United States.
So what about the quarter or so of travelers who did change their plans?
The most common response was reducing the length of their trips, rather than canceling entirely. Sixteen percent reported reducing activities or discretionary spending, 6% chose to postpone their trip, 5% chose a less expensive destination, and 2% shortened their trip.
Seventy-seven percent of travelers identified airfare as the travel expense that’s increased the most over the past year, with 47% remarking on the cost of hotels and accommodations, and 40% remarking on food and dining costs.
Non-U.S. travelers were more likely to remark on the costs of hotels and accommodations, at 60% (over 44% for U.S. travelers).
"The survey shows experienced international travelers remain committed to seeing the world even as costs continue to rise," said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce. "Rather than canceling trips, they're making thoughtful adjustments that preserve the experience while controlling discretionary spending."
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