Extreme heat and climate change are altering holiday patterns, with more Europeans choosing milder destinations or off-peak travel. The 2023 Rhodes wildfires and high heatwaves across Europe have prompted this shift, impacting traditional summer tourism in Mediterranean regions and potentially boosting staycations and travel to northern Europe.
Extreme heat is starting to change the way we holiday
Weather forecastingWildfiresUK heatwavesEnvironmentHeatwaves
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Extreme heat and climate change are altering holiday patterns, with more Europeans choosing milder destinations or off-peak travel. The 2023 Rhodes wildfires and high heatwaves across Europe have prompted this shift, impacting traditional summer tourism in Mediterranean regions and potentially boosting staycations and travel to northern Europe.
Trending- 1 2022: Multiple heatwaves across Europe, over 68,000 heat-related deaths. First 40C recorded in UK.
- 2 July 2023: Wildfires swept across Rhodes, 19,000 evacuated. Summer heatwave gripped much of Europe.
- 3 2023: Over 47,000 heat-related deaths throughout Europe.
- 4 2024: Greece saw 20% increase in spring tourism. Mintel research on UK holidaymakers. Greece replaced accommodation tax with "climate crisis resilience tax."
- 5 January and February 2025: Foreign arrivals to Spain exceeded 10 million.
- 6 By 2050: A fifth of Mediterranean sandy coastline could face severe loss.
- 7 By 2100: Sea level rises projected to increase by around 0.8-0.9m.
- Shift in tourism patterns
- Economic impact on traditional summer destinations
- Increased popularity of staycations and northern European destinations
- Potential price increases for domestic holidays
- New taxes (e.g., climate crisis resilience tax in Greece)
- Adaptation of resorts and activities
- Long-term threat to some beachside resorts due to sea level rises
What: Extreme heat and climate change are causing a shift in holiday patterns, with tourists opting for milder destinations, off-peak travel, or staycations.
When: Ongoing trend, with specific events in 2023 (Rhodes wildfires, Europe heatwaves), 2022 (Europe heatwaves), 2024 (spring tourism increase in Greece, UK research), 2025 (Spain foreign arrivals).
Where: Global, specifically Europe (Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Cyprus, UK, Scandinavia, Albania, Montenegro, Bulgaria), Caribbean, Pacific islands. Specific locations mentioned: Rhodes, Suffolk, Grado, Spessart (Bavaria and Hesse).
Why: Rising temperatures, more frequent and intense heatwaves, wildfires, and other climate change impacts (sea level rises, storm surges) make traditional summer destinations less appealing or safe.
How: Tourists are adapting by changing destinations, travel seasons, and types of activities; resorts are adapting by offering year-round tourism and evening activities; some countries are implementing "climate crisis resilience taxes."