Geopolitical instability is playing a growing role in how Australians choose where to travel, with the risk of terrorism or armed conflict now an essential factor when selecting a destination.
The findings come from Redion‘s 2026 Holiday Barometer, which surveyed 26,000 respondents across 26 countries.
Among Australian participants, 57% said wars and armed conflicts around the world were affecting their desire to travel more broadly.
Safety concerns are also influencing whether some Australians travel at all, with 9% of those who chose not to take a trip citing safety and security as the reason.
Redion said travellers are increasingly looking for destination safety information earlier in the planning process, while flexible itineraries and access to reliable advice are becoming more important when booking.
“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,” said Justin Sebire, Redion CEO Australia and New Zealand
Despite the uncertainty, the study found overall appetite for travel remains strong globally, with eight in 10 respondents 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.”
Redion also expects expert guidance and real-time support to play a larger role as travellers weigh changing conditions alongside destination appeal.
Now in its 25th year, the Holiday Barometer was conducted by Ipsos and examined travel motivations, budgets, safety perceptions and the use of technology in trip planning.
