Impact of Climate Change on Tourism Destinations
Impact of Climate Change on Tourism Destinations
Climate change is affecting everything, including tourism
This year, Italy, Spain, and France have been the centers of tourists, while many European countries are becoming unpopular among tourists. Why? Every year, forest fires near the Mediterranean Sea also affect European countries. This year, the temperature in summer here has exceeded 40 degrees. Spain, Greece, and Italy remained hot this year, but tourists from all over the world turned to these countries in large numbers. According to Stephen Gosling, professor of tourism at the University of Linnaeus, tourism has not changed due to climate change. Yes, the weather is getting hotter but tourists are flocking to many such countries, especially in hot weather.
Why the rush on Mediterranean tourist countries?
Italy has been a hotbed of tourists this year, seeing a record increase in summer tourist arrivals. There has also been a significant rush in hotels in Spain. According to the German Travel Association (DRV), German tourists visited Mediterranean countries in large numbers this year. The European Travel Commission says that France, Italy, and Spain have been the center of European tourists this year.
Director of the Foundation Future Studies
Professor Ulrich Reinhardt, director of the Foundation Future Studies, says that warm weather, sunny beaches, friendly locals, and culture are enough to attract tourists, but climate change is also a threat to these countries. According to experts, tourists want to go on vacation to places with beautiful beaches and pleasant weather, even though significant climate changes are taking place here.
Unpopular Southern Europe with tourists
According to Prof. Gosling, there will be more tourist arrivals in Spain, Italy, and Greece in the future, but it is also likely that this will happen in the off-season. European studies have also said that there has been a clear decrease in tourism in the southern regions of Europe. It is also likely that due to climate change in southern and central Europe, tourists will turn to these countries in large numbers.
Strong possibility
Professor Ulrish expressed the fear that in the next 20 or 50 years, there is a strong possibility that tourists will not even plan to spend holidays in Scandinavia because there is no specific action plan related to tourism at the government level in these countries. That's what they want.
Europe's new tourist center islands or mountains
Experts predict that tourist arrivals in some European countries such as Spain will increase every year. Instead of Copenhagen, Athens, and Venice, Spain's beaches, mountains, and islands like Mallorca will now be the focus of tourists. Gosling says southern European countries will have to adapt strategically to the challenges of climate change, though There is still time for these changes to take place. According to the Spanish Tourism Report, climate change is not yet on Spain's agenda. Many hotels use air conditioning heavily in summer which is not a solution to the problem. Professor Raine says there is a need to build a comprehensive system to avoid floods, rains, and extreme weather conditions.
Rising temperatures and tourist attractions
Experts say that Spain has a climate change law from 2021. Many cities now have plans to adapt to changing climate conditions. Beni Durm is considered to be a favorite tourist spot on the Mediterranean coast and this year saw a large number of tourists during the summer heat. Experts have made it clear that rising temperatures and a large number of tourists due to climate change are a challenge in these countries.
