Heatwave in Southern Europe could drive away tourists
In Southern Europe, it's getting hotter and hotter. Temperatures near 40 degrees are causing trouble for locals and tourists.
Hot air masses from Africa are bringing unbearable heat to Southern Europe these days. Temperatures above 40 degrees have been recorded in Spanish major cities like Sevilla and Cordoba. Italy has also been hit by a heatwave for several days. In large cities like Rome and Florence, temperatures reached up to 38 degrees in the shade. On the large Mediterranean island of Sicily, the 40-degree mark was even surpassed in some areas.
The tourism industry in Southern Europe is observing this development with mixed feelings. If heatwaves continue to increase due to climate change, it could drive away tourists in the long term. Instead of Mallorca or Malaga, people might prefer to book vacations in Sweden or Scotland.
A study by CaixaBank found that spending by tourists in Spanish regions with milder climates has grown more strongly than in hotter areas. And according to forecasts, the tourism industry could see a decline of up to 15% during the peak season, i.e., in July and August, due to rising temperatures.
A German couple on Mallorca has mixed feelings about the heat. "Anyone who knows the German weather is happy here every day because of the sun and the blue sky," says Stefan Muck from Mannheim. He can handle the heat without problems. However, his wife feels differently. "Between 14 and 17 o'clock, it's just too hot for me, and I can't do anything. I just lie around in the area and, with luck, I sleep. I will probably avoid Mallorca in July and August in the future."
Demonstrations on Mallorca
"Tourists go home. You are not welcome" is what demonstrators against mass tourism in Spain are calling for. The anger is growing. In the Mediterranean metropolis of Barcelona, in Malaga, or on Mallorca, demonstrators demanded measures against the excesses of mass tourism. Rising housing and living costs are driving people to the streets. However, the environmental burden, traffic jams, overcrowding, water shortages, and overloading of the healthcare sector and waste disposal due to ever more visitors are also causing concern among locals.
Others, however, warn against cutting off the branch they're sitting on. In Palma on Mallorca, the next demonstration is scheduled for Sunday. Perhaps some tourists will get a free cooling off, like some demonstrators did in Barcelona earlier in the month. They sprayed tourists with water pistols in street cafes.
However, Spain's tourism industry is still grumbling. By the end of May, 33.2 million foreign tourists had already been counted in the country with nearly 48 million inhabitants. Estimates suggest that there could be as many as 91 million tourists by the end of the year, who would pump around 125 billion euros into the Spanish treasury. The tourism boom has brought significant improvements to Spain's economic data, making it much better than, for example, Germany's at present.
Italy is currently experiencing a heatwave. On Friday, temperatures in some parts of the Mediterranean reached levels so high that the Health Ministry issued the highest heat warning for 17 larger cities, including the capital Rome and Florence. Tourists in Rome and Florence suffered in the streets of the old towns, moving from one attraction to the next. According to meteorologists, it should cool down a little over the weekend. The Health Ministry has declared the highest heat warning for at least eleven cities on this Saturday. In addition to the high temperatures, there is also a relatively high humidity, making the heat seem even hotter. However, it will get cooler starting on Monday, which could make the popular tourist destinations more bearable for visitors.
Up to 35 Million Tourists in Greece
Despite the heat in the summer months, it doesn't keep tourists from taking a vacation in Italy. In the previous year, when it was also hot in July and August, Italian tourism recorded a record high: More than 134 million tourist arrivals with around 451 million overnight stays in accommodation facilities were recorded. This year could look similar. The Demoskopika Institute predicts around 66 million tourist arrivals in the popular vacation destination.
In Greece, the number of tourists could reach up to 35 million this year. The National Bank of Greece regularly makes these forecasts; the Institute bases its calculations on preliminary figures, assuming an increase of 7% compared to the previous year in terms of visitors. The Institute expects an increase of 10% in revenue. In total, this important economic sector could generate around 22 billion Euros for Greece in 2024. Thirty-five million tourists are more than three times the population of Greece. However, there have been no demonstrations against tourists so far.
The head of the Panhellenic Hoteliers Association, Giannis Hatzis, believes that it will not come to that, as the tourist regions in Spain are much more densely populated and therefore cause greater problems. Currently, there are two destinations in the country that are fighting against mass tourism: the island of Santorini, where up to 10,000 cruise ship passengers land daily, and the Jet-Set Island of Mykonos, where the rich and famous of the world party, which causes criticism among the locals.
Just like in Spain and Italy, the current high temperatures are causing concern for the Greek tourism industry. The capital Athens, which accommodates many guests throughout the year, has had temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius day and night for the past ten days, making bodies feel extremely hot. Other regions are also affected by the heatwave. The industry has been calling for the season to start much earlier and end later for some time. Consequently, tourists are recommended to visit Greece during the cooler months of March to May and October. The temperatures are then manageable, and the popular destinations are not overcrowded.
Dutch people experience first summer days
The Netherlands is experiencing its first summer days. The temperatures have risen significantly, and the sun is shining brightly. This weather is a welcome change for the Dutch people, who have been dealing with rain and cooler temperatures for much of the year. The warmer weather has brought out people to enjoy the outdoors, with parks and beaches filled with families and friends. The longer days and warmer temperatures have also boosted sales of ice cream, sunglasses, and other summer essentials. The Dutch Meteorological Institute predicts that this summer will be warmer than average, which is good news for tourists planning a trip to the Netherlands. The country has a lot to offer during the summer months, from beautiful beaches and scenic bike rides to cultural festivals and outdoor concerts.
Europe as a whole is throbbing with heat - a small country in the north is thrilled about it: The Dutch experienced the first real summer days in this week. This is not an exaggeration. The Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute confirmed: "It was a very wet spring and before that, winter and autumn." To be precise: The twelve months from June 2023 to June 2024 were the wettest ever recorded in the country by the North Sea. No wonder that hardly anyone is complaining about the mini heatwave of three days in this week. From Sunday onwards, the familiar Dutch summer weather should return: changeable and cool.
And in Germany? Parts of the country are threatened with strong thunderstorms on Sunday. "Tief Heike is already in the starting blocks in the British Isles," said Julia Tuschy from the German Weather Service in Offenbach. A zone with low air pressure is moving from France towards the western parts of Germany in the night to Sunday. Therefore, strong thunderstorms are expected until Sunday morning in Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Baden-Württemberg. "These could possibly come with a strong rainfall."
The heatwave in Southern Europe is affecting more than just Spain and Italy. Even Germany is preparing for strong thunderstorms due to a low air pressure zone moving from France, potentially bringing heavy rainfall.
Despite the soaring temperatures, Italy is still a popular tourist destination. However, the Health Ministry has issued the highest heat warning for 17 larger cities, including Rome and Florence, as some parts of the Mediterranean reached record-high temperatures, causing discomfort for tourists.
