High temperatures in the south of Europe may change the habits of tourists. According to estimates by tourism organizations and experts cited by Greek media, more and more people may choose cooler destinations or go on vacation in the spring or fall to avoid extreme heat.

The number of those planning to travel to the Mediterranean region in June-November has already fallen by 10%

Figures from the European Tourism Commission (ETC), an association of national tourism organisations, show that the number of people planning to travel to the Mediterranean region between June and November has already fallen by 10% compared to last year, when warmer temperatures also led. to drought and forest fires. On the contrary, tourist interest in such destinations as the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland and Bulgaria has increased.

“We expect that in the future, unpredictable weather conditions will have a greater impact on the choices of those traveling to Europe,” says Miguel Sanz, head of ETC. The ETC report already shows that 7.6% of travelers now see extreme events as their top concern for travel between June and November.

Demand for travel has rebounded this summer as tourists leave pandemic restrictions behind, and travel companies say hot temperatures haven’t led to too many cancellations…yet.

The British made fewer reservations for domestic destinations and more for the Mediterranean

In particular, according to Sean Tipton of the British travel agency ABTA, Britons are booking fewer domestic destinations and more on the Mediterranean – often many months in advance – as they continue to look for beach destinations.

But this balance is at risk of being disrupted as heat waves are expected to become even more intense. Scientists have long warned that climate change caused by carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels will make extreme weather events more frequent, more severe and more deadly.

Temperatures next week are likely to surpass the current European record of 48.8 degrees Celsius set in Sicily in August 2021, forecasters predict, sparking fears of more deaths from extreme heat.

In recent weeks, European media have reported news about tourists who have to be airlifted from Italian beaches, or about a tourist who fainted from the heat on the Acropolis.

“A recent survey we conducted shows a decrease in the number of people interested in vacationing in August – the peak month – while more Europeans plan to travel in the fall,” says Sanz.

Tourists reorient themselves to rest in June and April

Tourists in Rome tell Reuters they are seriously considering whether they will visit the Italian capital again in July. “I’ll come again when it’s cooler. Only in June and April,” said Dalfna Niebuhr, an American tourist who was on holiday with her husband in Rome this week, explaining that the very high temperatures had made their holiday “terrible”.

This will seriously affect Italy’s economy, which is largely supported by summer tourism. Italy’s environment ministry warned in a report this year that foreign tourists would travel more in the spring and autumn and choose cooler destinations. However, some hope that this change will lead to a different holiday period, rather than a reduction in the overall number of tourists.

In Spain, tourism demand is expected to be strong on beaches in the north of the country and on the Spanish islands, where summer temperatures are usually cooler, according to a report by the country’s tourism business association Exceltur.

The material was made with the support of the RADOR agency