Taking the climate crisis into account when booking a vacation is more than just a question of environmental awareness. It’s also the reality of facing scorching temperatures when you take a break in the height of summer. According to recent research, more than three quarters of Europeans are now adjusting their travel habits according to climate change.
From choosing a hotel that’s taken steps to reduce its carbon footprint to opting for excursions that respect animal welfare or local customs, generally speaking, responsible tourism involves making decisions that minimise the impact of tourism on both the environment and the local population.
Recent research by Booking.com on the subject suggests that 45% of travellers worldwide are well aware of the importance of planning more sustainable holidays. Plus, 43% of those planning sustainable getaways over the next 12 months admit to feeling guilty when they make choices that don’t live up to this promise.
But taking climate change into account now involves weighing up another factor when it comes to vacation planning, namely protecting yourself from extreme temperatures. Who could forget the terrible images of wildfires sweeping the island of Rhodes, in Greece, last year? Let alone scorching days Europe saw at the end of August 2023.
It’s no surprise that memories of such events have consequences on people’s next vacations, with many travellers looking for somewhere cooler. This trend already has a name, the “coolcation”.
According to the European Travel Commission (ETC), a non-profit organisation representing the national tourism organisations of Europe, demand for vacations in southern Europe is down 10% compared to 2022. European vacationers are increasingly turning to northern (13%) and western (18%) destinations.
Pleasant weather is the second most important criterion for choosing a destination (13%), just behind safety (16%). It’s even more important than finding a bargain (11%)!
All in all, 76% of Europeans say they are adapting their travel habits according to climate change. And this is particularly true of travellers over 55, 32% of whom want to avoid destinations where they could experience extreme temperatures.
However, that’s not to say that Greece, Portugal or the French Riviera will lose their popularity this summer. While 16% of Europeans are mainly looking for destinations with stable weather, demand for Europe’s southern regions is still strong (45%), with Spain and Italy the top choices (8% each), ahead of France (7%) and Greece (6%). The sun and beach combo is still the most coveted of all: with 19% of Europeans choosing this as their preferred type of vacation for the next six months.
That said, 15% are still in the habit of keeping an eye on the weather forecast, while 11% opt for vacation activities that don’t depend on the weather. – AFP Relaxnews
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