Another hot summer is coming to Europe: tourists and cities are preparing
27 May 2024 16:12
Europe, the fastest warming continent, is preparing for another scorching summer season. The experience of recent years shows that everyone has to take into account the temperature: from tourists planning a trip to those who host them. This is stated in the article of The New York Times, "Komersant Ukrainian" writes
Thus, meteorologists warn that computer models indicate extremely hot weather in July and August, especially in southern Europe, where such popular tourist destinations as Greece, Croatia and Italy are located.
Last summer, large areas of southern Europe experienced prolonged periods of extreme temperatures of up to 48°C. The heat wrecked holidays as tourists fainted from heat exhaustion at crowded attractions. Forest fires led to evacuations in Greece, Italy and Spain.
“People quickly forget and dismiss negative experiences. So far, we don’t see a big change in decision-making because of the heat,”
– says Stefan Hessling, professor of tourism and climate change at Linnaeus University in Sweden.
However, popular destinations affected last year are taking action. Athens has become the first European city to appoint a chief heat officer to oversee adaptation efforts, including the creation of green spaces and free cooling zones. Italian travel agents are reviewing itineraries, planning sightseeing in the morning and evening with breaks for rest.
And a new company, Sensible Weather, offers heat insurance coverage that allows tourists to receive a refund for days when the temperature exceeds a certain threshold.
At the same time, some travellers have decided to visit cooler places this summer, such as Norway and Sweden.
Meanwhile, Venice has become a paid tourist destination: how to buy a ticket.
