Pirates. Thieves. infectious diseases.
These are the most sensitive security threats in 2025, according to experts.
“Right now, there’s a lot of uncertainty when it comes to security,” says Joe Cronin, CEO of International Citizens Insurance.
Even the professionals are getting nervous. Safety concerns are one of the main reasons business travelers decline a business trip, according to the latest SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey.
It’s going to be an interesting year to be on the road, say security professionals. And by “interesting” they mean “dangerous.”
So let’s talk about the new safety problems in 2025 and how to travel safely next year. I’ll also tell you how I’m preparing for one of the most uncertain years since the pandemic.
Security experts say the coming year will bring new threats.
Cronin, CEO of International Citizens Insurance, has been following political unrest in recent months that may be just for travelers. This includes emerging tensions in the Middle East and election-related violence in other countries, adding that the United States. He predicts this will continue until 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 a comprehensive policy that includes vacation cancellation, medical evacuation, and a policy against errors caused by weeds and political unrest. “Be prepared for the unexpected,” advises Raymond Yorke, a spokesman for Redpoint Travel Protection, an insurance company. This means contemplating the worst-case scenario before you 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 just let them 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. Additional data and frank discussions on crime assistance raised expectations. “Our clients 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. So is synthetic intelligence. “AI proliferation is an imminent threat,” says Harding Bush, associate director of security at Global Rescue. The reason: Tech scams, in addition to deepfake scams, Identity theft and misleading recommendations provided through bots can put users at risk, especially when booking their trips electronically or managing their itineraries.
John Rose, ALTOUR’s head of threats and security, says it’s the geopolitical landscape that worries him most. “That’s the biggest threat,” he says. It’s not just about the election cycles that have taken place or will take place around the world, but also about their conflicts. “Rose says “very, very careful” needs to be taken when making holiday plans for 2025 to account for the volatile geopolitical situation. In other words, 2025 may be the year to act more safely 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. These are 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 sensible 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 having asked the experts, I have a pretty good idea of what awaits me. Yes, travel will be dangerous in 2025. But if you plan in advance, do your homework, and pay close attention to the new threats, it’s not too dangerous.
As Charlie Sultan, the president of Concur Travel at SAP Concur, told me, “It’s impossible to eliminate travel-related risks completely.”
This is valid for travel, regardless of the year.
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