The classic ‘bucket list’ holiday is increasingly being run through a risk assessment first. New global research shows geopolitical instability is now shaping the travel habits of Australians.
New data from travel insurance and assistance provider Redion’s (formerly Europ Assistance) 2026 Holiday Barometer, a global study of 26,000 respondents across 26 countries, has found that world events are playing an increasingly important role in Australian travel decisions.
A record 50 per cent of Australian travellers say the risk of terrorism or armed conflict now plays an essential role in choosing their destination. More than half (57%) say wars and armed conflicts occurring around the world are impacting their desire to travel more broadly, well beyond the specific destinations affected. Among Australians who chose not to travel at all, 9 per cent cited safety and security concerns as the reason.
“World events are now factoring into individual decisions at a level we haven’t seen before and it’s reshaping not just where people go, but whether they go at all,” says Justin Sebire, CEO of Redion in Australia and New Zealand.”
The Australian findings reflect broader global trends identified in the 2026 Holiday Barometer. Despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures and geopolitical uncertainty, travel demand remains resilient, with eight in ten travellers globally enthusiastic about taking a trip this year.
“Building on the record levels seen last year, the desire to travel remains strong and undiminished, despite tougher trade-offs and the cost of living remaining a top global concern,” says Virginie Babinet, CEO Travel Insurance & Assistance, Redion Group.
“What is changing, however, is the travel landscape itself. Security considerations are weighing more heavily on destination choices, with decisions increasingly shaped by risk considerations. At the same time, artificial intelligence is now a genuine planning tool for a growing share of travellers worldwide.”
This shift raises the bar on the guidance travellers now expect before they book. Confidence is no longer built on destination appeal alone; it depends on real-time context, credible advice and a clear plan if circumstances change mid-trip.
“Trust becomes more critical than ever in periods of uncertainty, particularly at a time when the travel industry is facing volatility, says Justin. “Customers are leaning more heavily on expert advice, itinerary flexibility and real-time support.”
What this means for Australian travellers:
- The safety conversation is starting earlier: travellers increasingly want reassurance about destination risk built into the planning process, not raised as an afterthought.
- Flexibility is becoming a deciding factor: travellers are more likely to book a trip when they know plans can adapt if a situation changes.
- Expert advice is becoming more valuable, not less: as global instability persists, human guidance is proving harder to replace with self-directed research.
- Safety concerns are reshaping choices, not just cancelling them: nearly 1 in 10 non-travellers are opting out entirely over safety, pointing to demand that could shift toward lower-risk destinations rather than disappearing altogether.
About the Redion 2026 Holiday Barometer
Now in its 25th year, the Holiday Barometer is Redion’s flagship global travel research initiative, conducted by Ipsos, the world’s third largest market research company. The 2026 edition surveyed 26,000 respondents across 26 countries including Australia, exploring traveller motivations, budgets, safety perceptions and the role of technology in travel planning.