Pirates. Thieves. Infectious diseases.
Those are the top security threats in 2025, according to experts.
“Right now, there’s a lot of uncertainty when it comes to travel security,” says Joe Cronin, CEO of International Citizens Insurance.
Even professionals get nervous. Security considerations are one of the most common reasons why business travelers reject business trips, according to the most recent SAP Concur Global Business Travel survey.
It’s going to be a year to be on the road, say safety professionals. And by “”, they mean “dangerous”.
So let’s talk about the new security issues in 2025 and how to safely address them next year. I will also tell you how I am preparing for one of the years of maximum doubts since the pandemic.
Security experts say the coming year will bring new threats.
Cronin, CEO of International Citizens Insurance, has been tracking political unrest in recent months that may affect only travelers. This includes emerging tensions in the Middle East and election-related violence elsewhere, adding that United States. It predicts this will continue through 2025.
He says the most productive way to avoid that uncertainty is to review warnings issued through the U. S. State Department and then plan accordingly.
Let’s say the obvious. If you need to be safe in 2025, stay home. The world has been a dangerous position and is not getting safer. But there are tactics to mitigate safe risks, according to professionals.
Look for comprehensive coverage that includes trip cancellation, medical evacuation and protection against natural disasters and political unrest. “Prepare for the unexpected,” advises Raymond Yorke, a spokesman for Redpoint Travel Protection, a travel insurance company. That means running a worst-case scenario before you travel and making sure you’re covered for any event.
This means working with a professional advisor or a company that handles threat mitigation. And don’t let them simply send you a link to more safety resources. Susan Sherren, who runs Couture Trips, offers her clients a pre-trip Zoom consultation shortly before their departure date. The new data and frank discussions about helping to fight crime raised expectations. “Our customers leave home with a proactive mindset,” he says. And that kept them out of trouble.
It’s not just the same old cyber threats that worry experts. Artificial intelligence too. ” The proliferation of AI is an imminent threat,” said Harding Bush, associate director of security at Global Rescue. The reason: tech scams, deepfake scams, identity theft, and deceptive recommendations provided through bots can put users at risk. especially when it comes to booking their trips or managing their itineraries.
John Rose, head of threats and security at ALTOUR, says it is the geopolitical scenario that worries him the most. “That’s the biggest threat,” he says. “It is not only about the electoral cycles that have taken place or will take place around the world, but also about their conflicts. ” Rose says you need to be “very, very careful” when making holiday plans for 2025 to take into account the volatile geopolitical situation. In other words, 2025 may be the year to play it safe when it comes to security, especially when it comes to ForeignArray.
Where are the hot spots? Robert Siciliano, CEO of ProtectNowLLC. com, showed me the map. This is the Middle East, Ukraine, Venezuela and Taiwan. And, of course, there is also the unpredictability of American politics.
“Now more than ever, it is vital to have a broader awareness and pay close attention to countries’ perspectives on Americans,” he added.
There are real-time threat assessment teams that can do this. For example, World Travel Protection’s Travel Assist control portal and Travel Assist app provide its consumers with real-time updates on security threats, herbal bugs, and fitness threats.
I planned my trips for 2025. And I admit that at one point I thought it might be a good idea to travel to certain parts of the world, or even stay home.
I’ve also been fielding questions from nervous travelers on my consumer advocacy site, who have asked: Is it safe to go there? Is it safe to go anywhere?
I can’t help but travel, even if some destinations aren’t exactly rated Tier 1 by the State Department. I spent time in the Middle East over the Thanksgiving holiday and will be in Southeast Asia this winter. In some situations in my direction I will have to watch my back.
But if I may stop, would I do it?
After surveying the experts, I have a pretty smart idea of what to expect. Yes, it will be harmful in 2025. But if you plan ahead, do your homework, and pay close attention to new threats, it’s not too damaging.
As Charlie Sultan, the president of Concur Travel at SAP Concur, told me, “It’s impossible to eliminate travel-related risks completely.”
This is true for travel, not for the year.
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