Europe is sweltering. Should holidaymakers ditch their plans?

A heatwave is sizzling Europe, with temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius in some tourist destinations. Several countries, including France and Spain, have issued heat warning alerts.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that extreme heat is the “new normal”. “The planet is getting hotter & more dangerous — no country is immune,” he said from Seville, Spain, on Monday afternoon, while reiterating calls to tackle climate change.

As extreme temperatures scorch much of Europe, a dilemma has arisen for holidaymakers about whether to continue their travel plans or not. Let’s take a look.

Heatwave sears Europe

A heatwave scorched Europe for a second day, leading to health warnings and alerts about wildfire risks.

France issued a red alert – the highest extreme heat warning – for 16 places, including Paris. Amid the severe heatwave, as many as 1,350 schools across France were fully or partially shut on Tuesday (July 1), reported The Guardian.

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The top of the Eiffel Tower, a popular tourist destination in Paris, was also closed for the day. Tourists visiting the French city are tweaking their plans according to the weather. “We were going to do a bike tour today actually, but we decided because it was gonna be so warm not to do the bike tour,” Andrea Tyson, 46, who was visiting Paris from New Philadelphia, Ohio, told Independent.

In Spain, Barcelona recorded its hottest month of June on Monday. Many southern cities, including Seville, continued to record temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. Spain’s national weather service has warned there might be no respite until Thursday.

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Wildfires are still ravaging Turkey’s western region, with over 50,000 people evacuated to safe zones. A rise in temperatures, dry weather and powerful winds have sparked 342 fires across the country.

Amid an intense heatwave, two people have died in Italy. A 47-year-old died in Bologna after falling ill at a construction site. A 70-year-old drowned in Bardonecchia, a tourist resort, after being swept away in flash flooding.

Regional governments in northwestern Liguria and southern Sicily in Italy have put restrictions on outdoor work during peak heat hours.

It is also very hot in Greece. However, mercury has not reached record highs after temperatures hit 40 degrees Celsius over the weekend.

Portugal recorded its highest-ever June temperature of 46.6 degrees Celsius on Sunday, AFP reported, citing the national weather service.

Temperatures in southern Germany were predicted to reach 39 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

The United Kingdom recorded its hottest day of the year, with Frittenden, Kent, recording 33.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its amber heat health alerts for Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands, the West Midlands, the East of England, London, the South East and the South West until Wednesday morning.

Is it safe to travel to Europe?

As extreme heat grips Europe, travellers are at an increased risk of heat-related issues.

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) notes that “intense heat can be dangerous”. It warns that heatwaves could lead to dehydration, overheating and heatstroke.

Climate change is “likely to see the number and intensity of heatwaves increase”, Independent reported, citing TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC).

But if tourists take “sensible precautions”, many health risks associated with extreme temperatures can be reduced. “Travellers should be aware that heatwaves may place local health services under additional pressure as, for example, the demand for care may increase or there may be disruption to power and water supplies,” it said.

Elderly people, babies and young children are more vulnerable to hot weather. The travellers with underlying health issues and pregnant women are also at risk.

“Hot weather can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, lung problems and other diseases,” as per the health authority.

Are travel plans to Europe changing?

Europe has witnessed sweltering temperatures in recent years, with over 47,000 heat-related deaths reported in 2023 alone, as per the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal).

As summers get too hot, tourists are reconsidering their travel plans to destinations with high temperatures.

A report published in April by the European Travel Commission (ETC) found that 81 per cent of Europeans said they changed their holiday plans due to factors related to climate change. Nearly a third are opting for places with milder weather.

Climate change is known to have triggered frequent and intense heatwaves around the world. The World Meteorological Organisation says that Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth.

According to a recent survey by travel insurance company Insureandgo of 2,000 British adults, three in four believe some European holiday spots will be too hot to travel to within the next five years.

Bas Amelung, a professor in environmental systems analysis at Wageningen University, told BBC that some parts of Europe might become too hot for several people in the future. “Countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Turkey that currently attract the traditional ‘sun and sand’ summer tourists are likely to become too hot for comfort in the summer,” he said.

Amelung said that even if the temperature does not shoot up much in the short term, people’s perception may dictate where they will travel. “People take decisions based on their perceptions,” he explained. “So if a large majority of holidaymakers thinks some European destinations will soon be ’too hot’, they may well start adapting, either by going somewhere else in summer or by going to the same place in another season.”

Amid extreme heat in summer, some people have started travelling to Europe in other seasons, such as spring and winter. Industry experts told BBC that tourists are also visiting less traditional destinations in Europe during summer breaks.

“There is an increased emphasis on travel to northern destinations, with more routes to Iceland, Norway and Finland than ever… spreading tourism more evenly,” according to Simon Calder, a journalist and broadcaster on BBC’s The Travel Show.

While holiday patterns are shifting, it is not happening on a large scale. Those who have young kids still make their plans as per their children’s summer holidays, Prof Amelung said.

However, as temperatures soar, sea levels rise and storms become more intense, can holiday plans remain unaffected for long? Only time will tell.

With inputs from agencies