Than the heat waves affect our health It’s something we’re starting to accept the hard way. However, the fact that they also affect the economy goes much more unnoticed by us. For example, in Spain they are having an increasingly notable effect on tourism. He recently demonstrated it a team of researchers from the Rey Juan Carlos University. In it, as well as in an informative article published in Science Media Center (SMC), these scientists point out how heat wave episodes are related to the behavior of international tourists, especially those from the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
Two close but different years. To carry out this study, data from 2022 and 2023 were compared, obtained from both the Frontur survey of the National Statistics Institute and the AEMET records. July 2022 had one of the most intense heat waves ever recorded in Spain; although get ready for 2022, coming 2026. July 2023, on the other hand, did not have extreme heat episodes. When comparing the data, it was seen that tourism did not stop arriving in Spain in 2022, but it is true that its behavior changed greatly and, in certain cases, it also decreased.
Heat waves are already part of the planning. Before, when we organized our holidays, we took into account factors such as price, proximity to monuments or the possibility of taking excursions. Now, heat has become another factor that is taken into account. In fact, according to a survey by the European Travel Commission (ETC), 81% of Europeans say that climate change affects the way they travel. Of all of them, 15% said they seek milder climates, while 14% said they avoid destinations prone to extreme heat.
In the case of foreigners who come to Spain, the study by the Rey Juan Carlos University has above all observed a reduction in the duration of stays in periods of intense heat. Furthermore, at the same time, many tourists have changed their favorite destinations for cooler places, known as coolcations. This is especially noticeable in the case of English tourists.
The islands, the most affected. The island territories, in which extreme heat is combined with humidity during heat wavesare the ones who have experienced these effects the most. Above all, the study by the Rey Juan Carlos University speaks of a very intense effect in the Balearic Islands.
They don’t want to come back. According to another study carried out by Caixa Bank Researchthe probability of a tourist returning to Spain when their stay has coincided with an extreme heat wave is reduced by 13.8%. Furthermore, in case they return, they usually choose colder destinations.
Change of dates. In another studypublished in 2024 by scientists from several Valencian research centers, simulations of coupled air-sea regional climate models were carried out to study the climatic conditions on the Spanish Mediterranean coasts in the coming decades. It was observed that the temperature could possibly increase by 1ºC to 2ºC between 2025 and 2034 and by 3ºC to 4ºC between 2055 and 2064, so it is likely that tourism in these regions will not disappear, but will shift to autumn and spring, when there will be temperatures more similar to those that have attracted tourists until now.
Reinvent yourself or die… from the heat. Many countries are already taking measures to avoid a massive flight of tourism and, of course, Spain has not been left behind. Here, for example, bars and restaurants are required to close their terraces during the hottest hours of the day in periods of heat waves. The authors of the SMC article, for their part, predict that “it will be necessary to incorporate the climate variable in the planning and management of tourism, reinforcing the comfort of visitors through shaded spaces or air-conditioned rooms and services designed to reduce thermal stress.” In short, “hotel establishments can play a fundamental role in this regard.”
Despite everything, Mediterranean tourism continues to be the favorite of Europeans
And despite everything, the Mediterranean resists. The Mediterranean Sea is a clear indicator of the evolution of climate change. The accelerated warming of its waters has raised the alarm about an increasingly worrying situation. However, its many tourist attractions continue to face heat waves; Well, despite everything mentioned, the south and the Mediterranean of Europe they remain the main option for spring and summer holidays, attracting 60% of European travelers.
It does not seem that we are going to have a massive flight from tourism, but it is clear that it is going to transform, with shorter stays and early or late vacation periods. You just have to see how flights to tourist cities like Rome experience big price drops in August, only to suddenly rise in October, when temperatures stop being so stifling. In short, given that climate change, for the moment, is here to stay, tourism must reconvert. It must be economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. Now also climatically.
Images | Magnificent
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