A new survey commissioned by eSIM marketplace Airalo and conducted by YouGov on a representative sample of the Italian population has found that safety, cost and flexibility have become the three defining factors shaping how Italians approach international travel in 2026.
The research found that 64% of Italians feel less safe travelling abroad than they did a year ago. The concern is more pronounced among women, at 70%, compared with 57% among men. Only 4% of respondents said they feel safer than before.
Despite that shift in sentiment, appetite for travel has not collapsed. Nearly one in five respondents has already changed their destination plans, a similar proportion is actively considering alternatives, and 31% intend to keep their original itineraries while applying greater caution. Just 8% said they would not travel at all in 2026, reflecting the combined pressure of cost and concern about global instability.
Cost Remains the Dominant Barrier
For most Italian travellers, price remains the primary decision-making factor, cited by 62% of respondents. That finding echoes broader European patterns. Separate research published by YouGov on British travellers found that 48% said rising costs had affected their plans, with transport cited as the biggest pressure point. The European Travel Commission’s Long-Haul Travel Barometer 1/2026, which surveyed travellers from seven overseas markets, similarly identified high costs as the leading barrier to travel, named by 52% of those not planning an overseas trip.
For Italian travellers, that cost sensitivity comes at a time when geopolitical tensions have also narrowed the list of destinations many consider viable. Research into Italian cruise behaviour found a marked drop in booking intent for Middle Eastern ports and Gulf itineraries, with lines including Costa Crociere and MSC Crociere having already restructured winter programmes to redirect passengers toward the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and the Caribbean.
Generational Divide Shapes Destination Choices
Age plays a significant role in how Italians are responding to the current climate. Younger travellers, particularly Gen Z and millennials, remain most open to international trips. Among younger respondents, 42% said they would not change their plans but would stay more alert. Baby Boomers showed a markedly different outlook, with domestic tourism accounting for as much as 77% of their stated preferences, reflecting a tendency to reduce exposure to uncertainty by staying closer to home.
That generational split is consistent with findings from the ETC Long-Haul Travel Barometer, which found that slow travel is gaining momentum across European markets, rising from 22% of long-haul intentions in 2025 to 26% in 2026, and that culture and history remain the top planned activities for those who do travel internationally.
Long-Haul Interest Persists Among Italian Travellers
Even in a more cautious environment, the Airalo and YouGov survey found that 27% of Italians are still considering destinations outside Europe, including the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. That level of long-haul curiosity sits against a global backdrop in which overall long-haul travel intentions have declined by 5% year on year, according to the ETC Barometer, which noted that affordability concerns and limited vacation time are the primary constraints.
Within Europe, Italy itself has emerged as a beneficiary of redirected demand. Industry analysts have noted that Italian and Spanish destinations are absorbing significant passenger volume from travellers who would previously have considered Gulf states and Middle Eastern destinations, with both countries operating as primary safe-haven choices in the European aviation market during the first half of 2026.
Connectivity Emerges as a Tool for Reassurance
Airalo reported an increase in requests for unlimited data packages alongside the publication of the survey findings, a shift the company attributed to the growing view among travellers that staying connected serves both a practical and an emotional function when travelling abroad. In an environment where itinerary changes can arise quickly, access to real-time information has moved from a convenience to a form of travel insurance for many users.
That demand for connectivity also reflects the practical realities of travelling in Italy in 2026. Rail disruptions caused by infrastructure sabotage in February affected approximately 40,000 passengers across high-speed routes and underlined how quickly conditions can change, making real-time access to travel updates, mapping services and accommodation bookings more valuable than before.
A Market Recalibrating Around Risk
The Airalo and YouGov findings reflect a broader structural shift in how Italians engage with international travel. Planning has expanded beyond destination selection and budget allocation to incorporate risk assessment, flexible booking conditions and contingency thinking. That shift is consistent with observations from travel industry analysts across Europe, who have noted a move toward shorter booking windows, increased uptake of flexible fare options and greater demand for safety messaging from travel brands.
For travel companies operating in the Italian market, the data point to an audience that remains eager to travel but requires more than destination appeal to convert that intent into a booking. Safety guarantees, adaptable cancellation policies and reliable digital connectivity are increasingly part of the decision-making calculus for Italian travellers heading into the second half of 2026.
