Temperatures of more than 40 degrees in Spanish cities such as Seville and Córdoba. And Italy has also been hit by a heat wave for days. In the big cities such as Rome and Florence, temperatures of up to 38 degrees in the shade were measured. On the Mediterranean island of Sicily, the 40-degree mark was even broken in some places. The tourism industry is watching the development with mixed feelings.
If heat waves continue to increase due to climate change, this might cause some holidaymakers to flee in the long term. People are more likely to book Sweden or Scotland instead of Mallorca or Malaga, so the fear goes. A study by CaixaBank found that holidaymakers’ spending in the Spanish regions with a more temperate climate has increased more than in the particularly hot areas. And if temperatures continue to rise, forecasts conclude that tourism in the peak season, i.e. the months of July and August, might collapse by up to 15 percent.
Advantages and disadvantages of heat
A German couple on Mallorca are not entirely in agreement regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the heat. “Everyone who knows the German weather is happy regarding the sun and the blue sky here every day,” says Stefan Muck from Mannheim. The heat can be tolerated without any problems. His wife sees it differently. “Between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. it is simply too hot for me and there is nothing I can do. I just lie around and if I’m lucky I sleep. I will probably avoid Mallorca in July and August in the future.” This is exactly what participants in demonstrations once morest mass tourism in Spain want. Dissatisfaction with the negative consequences is growing. In the Mediterranean metropolis of Barcelona, in Málaga and on Mallorca, demonstrators demanded measures once morest the excesses of mass tourism. Rising housing and living costs in particular are driving people onto the streets. But locals are also outraged by environmental pollution, traffic jams, general overcrowding, water shortages and the overloading of the health sector and waste disposal due to increasing numbers of visitors. Others, however, warn not to saw off the branch you are sitting on.
The next demonstration is scheduled for Sunday in Palma on Mallorca. Perhaps some tourists will be able to cool off for free, like in Barcelona at the beginning of the month. There, demonstrators sprayed tourists in street cafes with water pistols.
But Spain’s tourism industry is still booming
But Spain’s tourism industry is still booming. By the end of May, 33.2 million foreign tourists had already been counted in the country with a population of just under 48 million. Estimates suggest that by the end of the year there might be 91 million holidaymakers, bringing around 125 billion euros into the Spanish coffers. The boom in tourism is also giving Spain much better economic data than Germany, for example.
Italy is also currently suffering from a heat wave. On Friday, temperatures in some parts of the Mediterranean country were so high that the Ministry of Health declared the highest heat warning level for 17 major cities – including the capital Rome and Florence. Tourists in Rome and Florence struggled through the alleys of the old towns and from one attraction to the next in temperatures of around 38 degrees. According to meteorologists, it should cool down a little over the weekend.
Highest heat warning level
On Saturday, the Ministry of Health declared the highest heat warning level for at least eleven cities. In addition to the high temperatures, there is a relatively high level of humidity, which makes the heat seem even warmer. From Monday, however, it will cool down further, which might make vacation more bearable for visitors to the tourist hotspots.
However, the heat in the summer months is not yet stopping many tourists from vacationing in Italy. Last year – even then it was very hot in July and August – Italy’s tourism reached a record high: more than 134 million holidaymakers arrived, with around 451 million overnight stays in accommodation establishments. This year it might be similar. The Demoskopika Institute predicted around 66 million holidaymakers would arrive in the popular holiday destination for this summer alone.
Tourism is a very important source of income in Italy. Many Italians are aware of this. Venice, Rome and other places in Tuscany, Liguria, Sicily and Sardinia in particular are overcrowded during the holiday season. Discontent among the locals is growing. They are demanding that the flow of visitors be better controlled and restricted.
In Greece, the number of tourists might rise to as many as 35 million this year. The National Bank of Greece regularly makes forecasts; based on preliminary figures, the institute expects a 7 percent increase in visitors compared to the previous year. The institute sees an increase in revenue of ten percent. Overall, this economic sector, which is so important for Greece, might bring in around 22 billion euros in 2024.
Greek islands fight once morest mass tourism
35 million visitors is more than three times as many people as Greece has inhabitants. Nevertheless, there have been no demonstrations once morest tourists so far. The head of the Panhellenic Hotel Association, Giannis Hatzis, assumes that it will not come to that because the holiday regions in Spain are much more densely populated and this creates greater problems.
There are currently two destinations in the country that are fighting once morest mass tourism: the island of Santorini, where up to 10,000 cruise ship passengers land every day, and the jet-set island of Mykonos, where the rich and beautiful of the world flock, which has caused some criticism among the residents.
Just like in Spain and Italy, the current high temperatures are also causing problems for the Greek tourism industry. In the capital Athens, which hosts many guests all year round, temperatures have been above 30 degrees day and night for ten days, which is extremely exhausting. Other regions are also affected by the heatwave. But this is also in the country’s interest: the industry has long been calling for the season to start much earlier and end later. Accordingly, visitors are recommended to travel to Greece in the cooler months of March to May and October. The temperatures are bearable then and the popular destinations are not so crowded.
All of Europe is groaning under the heat – only one small country in the north is overjoyed: The Dutch experienced (what feels like) the first real midsummer days this week. That’s not much of an exaggeration. The Royal Meteorological Office also confirms: “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 in the country on the North Sea. No wonder hardly anyone is moaning regarding the mini heatwave of three days this week. From Sunday, the familiar Dutch summer weather should return: changeable and cool.
