What do WWII battles, ballistic missiles, and the deadly brown tree snake have in common?
In Britain, the 10 hottest years since records began in 1884 have all occurred in this century. In Germany, the average annual number of hot days (reaching 30°C—86°F
—or higher) has increased since the 1950s.
It takes at least one to two weeks to acclimate to heat stress, meaning a tourist from a cooler climate won't have time to adjust during their week-long vacation in a warmer area.
On June 5, 2024, British presenter and doctor Michael Mosley died during a hike in 104°F (40°C) temperatures on the Greek island of Symi. The coroner believed heat exhaustion could have been a contributing factor to Mosley's death.
Having a spray bottle with a fan attached or using an umbrella as a sunshade can help with the heat while you're on the road.
In June 2024, six tourists died while visiting Greece during an unusually early summer heat wave when temperatures exceeded 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celcius). Authorities believe heat stress likely played a part in each of the deaths.
Factors such as gender and age, and illnesses like heart disease and diabetes, can influence how an individual tolerates heat.
Heat-related deaths are becoming increasingly common as the Earth heats up, and high temperatures could particularly impact tourists, who are often both mentally and physically uprepared for the heat they may experience in a new destination.
Climate change won't only come in the form of heat waves but extreme weather events like flooding, too. On August 1, 2024, Pakistan's second-largest city, Lahore, was deluged with record-breaking rainfall.
From southwest Texas, where a teen hiker died in extreme heat, to the Australian Outback, which saw the death of a Californian man while hiking, health officials are urging visitors to change their behavior to cope with the heat.
The Mediterranean region is warming 20% faster than the global average, putting additional pressure on already strained ecosystems and vulnerable economies and communities.
Destinations on the south and east of Spain's peninsula will feel the greatest impacts of climate change. These zones will become less habitable due to more heatwaves and hotter nights.
One human case of West Nile virus infection, spread by the Culex pipiens mosquito, was reported in Spain's Seville province in March 2024.
Tourists should stay indoors during peak heat and keep hydrated. They could also purchase attraction tickets in advance to avoid standing in line in the heat or consider booking their vacation for the end of the summer when temperatures should be cooler.
Some industry experts are calling for hotels and resorts to raise awareness of health risks by increasing communications around heat.
Tourists are beginning to travel to cooler locations instead of warmer destinations like Italy and Greece, which is putting a significant strain on communities where tourism is a large part of their economy.
Protesters in the Canary Islands have complained that the high volume of tourists is exacerbating water shortages. Many major cities and tourist destinations have even implemented tourist taxes and bans to reduce the number of tourists visiting.
Sources: (CNN) (The Guardian) (Inside Climate News) (Seattle Times)
See also: Go away! Countries that want to reduce the number of tourists
Some destinations are implementing strategies to mitigate climate change effects. From July 15, 2024, the city of Copenhagen started providing free access to museum tours and kayak rentals if visitors can demonstrate climate-friendly behavior, such as cycling or cleaning up trash.
In July 2024, California's Death Valley reached 129°F (53.8°C). Despite the deadly heat, tourists still visited the valley.
Increased temperatures due to climate change are pushing populations of disease-transmitting mosquitoes into Europe. The mosquitoes can spread dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses.
Cooler countries like Norway and Iceland have seen a rise in visitors during the summer months. This trend, dubbed "coolcationing," was named by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the "biggest travel trends to expect in 2024." However, some experts aren't certain the change will stick.
In 2023, seven visitors to national parks across the US died of heat-related illnesses from June to the end of July.
Strenuous outdoor activities, like hiking, and high temperatures can be a deadly combination.
Drinking less water, consuming alcohol, and sleeping less due to jet lag can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses.
One strategy for tourist destinations to help visitors prepare for the heat is to move popular events to different months. In 2022, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) changed the World Cup in Qatar from the summer to November and December to beat the extreme heat.
The ability to beat the heat can depend on where someone lives and the temperatures they are used to. If someone is consistently exposed to high temperatures, their body acclimatizes.
According to a 2023 study, health conditions like obesity and diabetes could negatively affect a person's ability to acclimatize.
An increasing number of people are eschewing tropical getaways for more temperate countries like Norway.
A person from a consistently hot city like Phoenix, Arizona, might have a higher heat tolerance than someone from a cooler city like Providence in New England. Tourists from Providence visiting Phoenix could face higher health risks from the heat than residents.
After Europe's 2023 summer heat wave, the European Travel Commission noted a 7% increase in expressions of concern about climate change from European travelers.
Sweltering summers are becoming commonplace across Europe as climate change is well and truly taking hold. In July 2023, Greece faced the longest heat wave on record, lasting 16 days, and in June 2024, Italy issued level 3 heat alerts, the highest level, for the Italian cities of Rome, Perugia, and Palermo. Figuring out how the travel industry can adapt to the rising temperatures is becoming a bigger issue for countries in southern Europe, many of which rely on tourism.
If you'd like to know how heat waves are impacting the travel industry, click through this informative gallery now.
How extreme heat is impacting tourism
Heat waves are changing how we vacation
LIFESTYLE Vacations
Sweltering summers are becoming commonplace across Europe as climate change is well and truly taking hold. In July 2023, Greece faced the longest heat wave on record, lasting 16 days, and in June 2024, Italy issued level 3 heat alerts, the highest level, for the Italian cities of Rome, Perugia, and Palermo. Figuring out how the travel industry can adapt to the rising temperatures is becoming a bigger issue for countries in southern Europe, many of which rely on tourism.
If you'd like to know how heat waves are impacting the travel industry, click through this informative gallery now.