Exploring Key Travel Risk Management Trends of Today and Tomorrow

Over the last 12 months, global mobility started to make a full recovery from the pandemic and, in some cases, returned to pre-2020 conditions. However, the nature of mobility has evolved. Geopolitical unpredictability, digital gatekeeping, and climate-driven disruption all accelerated, converging on the way people move across borders. Against this backdrop, Travel Risk Management (TRM) could no longer function as a static process. It shifted into a dynamic, cross-functional discipline, one that evolves in real time as borders harden, digital footprints become liabilities, and identity itself shapes the risk exposure.

A journalist heading to a conference, a logistics consultant traveling through a tense border region, or an engineer with ties to a sanctioned state all face travel risks that are far more complex than they used to be. For 2026, the challenge facing organizations is clear – TRM must transform from a reactive model into a predictive, intelligence-led system that integrates digital hygiene, scenario planning, and tailored risk profiles directly into trip preparation.

The normalization of high-alert travel
In 2025, high-risk travel wasn’t confined to warzones, with conflict in Israel and Iran spilling into the Eastern Mediterranean’s flight corridors and elections in Ecuador and Nigeria triggering localized political violence. At the same time, strikes, protests, and unrest in traditionally stable regions disrupted business continuity without warning, and risk thresholds began to shift, not just by location, but by timing, perception, and symbolism.

TRM teams have been pushed to respond with real speed and precision. Quick threat assessments, route checks, and worst-case scenario planning became routine elements of trip planning. Operational plans no longer stop at security risks – they factor in scenarios such as airspace closures, internet shutdowns, and local hostility, incidents that were once seen as rare, but are now common considerations.

Border protocol friction and emerging gatekeepers
Over the last year, crossing a border became far more involved than simply presenting a passport. Scrutiny intensified, not only in authoritarian states, but also in democracies applying stricter interpretations of long-standing laws. Academic affiliations, dual nationalities, social media activity, and even the use of encrypted apps became grounds for secondary inspection or denial of entry.

Non-Governmental Organization employees, researchers, and journalists bore the brunt, and in response, TRM programs evolved. Legal briefings became standard, digital audits preempted travel, and alternative routes were embedded into planning for more exposed travelers. The border became less of a threshold and more of a dynamic, subjective, and increasingly unpredictable geopolitical interface.

Digital exposure as a risk vector
One of the defining features of travel in 2025 was the formal merging of cybersecurity and physical mobility. Governments expanded digital surveillance practices, scanning traveler devices, flagging deleted files, or interpreting private messaging as a cause for concern. LGBTQ+ content, VPN usage, or prior research into dissident topics were enough to trigger detainment or deportation in some jurisdictions.

Higher-risk groups such as LGBTQ+ travelers, human rights workers, and diaspora nationals required more specific support, leading TRM teams to add digital hygiene steps, encrypted communication strategies, and tiered briefings to protect both people and data.

Healthcare disparities and medical volatility
While the immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has faded, the strain it left on healthcare systems remains. Travelers are increasingly encountering bottlenecks in accessing urgent care, whether due to urban privatization, rural underfunding, or bureaucratic delays.

TRM frameworks have been adjusted to include vetting provider quality, securing payment guarantees, and integrating telehealth capabilities, all of which have become embedded features of travel planning. Emergency medical briefings, once a niche practice, have become standard for extended or remote assignments.

Climate events as strategic disruptors
From record-breaking heatwaves in Europe to typhoons in East Asia and flash floods in Brazil, climate risk moved from an abstract concern to a trip-cancelling reality. Infrastructure collapsed, supply chains froze, and entire regions became inaccessible within hours.

In response, TRM teams began using more weather intelligence and incorporated local disaster coordination plans into their briefings. Procedures for sheltering in place, staying safe in extreme heat, and defining clear evacuation triggers became the standard rather than the exception.

The escalating risk to marginalized people
Discrimination and targeting became more open – particularly towards LGBTQ+ travelers, ethnic minorities, and people from politically sensitive countries – with some exposed to dating app entrapment, surveillance justified under morality laws, and inconsistent or biased policing.

The duty of care evolved with organizations introducing identity-specific risk advisories, identifying inclusive lodging and clinic networks, and establishing anonymous escalation channels. TRM teams embraced intersectionality not as an add-on, but as a core element of ethical mobility.

Where TRM is headed in 2026

Legal alignment and go/no-go protocols
Risk-based trip approval will mature with organizations building models that factor in bilateral tensions, visa fragility, and personal exposure to cyber or reputational risk. TRM teams will work more closely with legal and compliance departments to help avoid risks, rather than just responding to their impact.

AI prediction and open source fusion
TRM platforms will make fuller use of real-time intelligence, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven alert tools, and open-source information to track fast-moving threats. Alerts will move beyond simple location triggers, reflecting both the traveler’s individual risk profile as well as how volatile their destination is.

Biometric ethics and surveillance mapping
As more countries normalize facial scans and biometric tracking, the ethical pressure on TRM teams will grow, requiring clear plans for consent, data retention, and dispute pathways. Organizations must prepare for cases where digital identity becomes a liability.

Airspace volatility and route fragility
Major flight corridors are becoming increasingly exposed to conflict zones, notably in the Black Sea, Red Sea, and the Sahel. TRM programs now need to factor in airspace risk modeling and contingency planning to limit the knock-on disruption this can cause.

ESG and ethical travel demands
Environmental, Social, and Governance principles are shaping TRM decisions. Travelers and stakeholders alike are demanding ethical supply chains, low-emission routing, and partner due diligence that encompasses anti-slavery compliance and LGBTQ+ safety. The ethics of movement now extends beyond logistics.

Inclusion of the nontraditional workforce
Freelancers, consultants, and gig workers represent a growing percentage of international travelers, yet many remain outside formal TRM coverage. In 2026, organizations will be pressed to extend the duty of care, closing gaps in access to intelligence, insurance, and emergency support.

Looking ahead, the strategic travel environment is no longer stable, neutral, or predictable. Global movement has become a more nuanced act, shaped by power, data, identity, and climate consideration, and the organizations that thrive will be those that treat TRM as predictive, inclusive, and intelligence-led.

Want to learn more?
If there is anything we can do to support your team’s travel risk management planning needs in 2026, please reach out anytime.

About On Call International:
When traveling, every problem is unique–a medical crisis, a political threat, even a common accident such as a missed flight. But every solution starts with customized care that ensures travelers are safe and protected. That’s why for over 30 years, On Call International has provided fully-customized travel risk management and emergency assistance services protecting millions of travelers, their families, and their organizations. Visit www.oncallinternational.com and follow us on LinkedIn to learn more.