Tourism bodies and experts anticipate a lasting shift in tourist habits due to the soaring summer temperatures across southern Europe. They predict that more travelers will opt for cooler destinations or plan their holidays in the spring or autumn seasons to evade the extreme heat.

Data from the European Travel Commission (ETC) reveals a 10% decline in the number of people intending to travel to the Mediterranean region from June to November, in comparison to the previous year. This decrease can be attributed to the previous year's scorching weather conditions, which resulted in droughts and wildfires.

Meanwhile, countries such as the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, and Bulgaria have experienced a surge in tourist interest. Miguel Sanz, the head of the European Travel Commission (ETC), stated that they expect unpredictable weather conditions to exert a more significant influence on travelers' decisions in Europe.

In line with this, a report from the trade body indicates that 7.6% of travelers now consider extreme weather events as a significant concern when planning trips from June to November. This data further supports the notion that tourists are becoming increasingly cautious and selective about their travel destinations due to the impact of weather conditions.

Anita Elshoy and her husband, regular visitors to Vasanello, a village north of Rome, had to cut short their vacation this month due to soaring temperatures. Experiencing temperatures of approximately 35°C, Elshoy suffered from heat-related symptoms such as headaches, leg pain, swollen fingers, and dizziness.

As a result, they had to return home to Norway a week earlier than planned.

Elshoy expressed her disappointment, stating that they were initially scheduled to stay in Vasanello for two weeks but had to leave due to the unbearable heat. This personal account highlights the impact of extreme temperatures on tourists' experiences and their decisions to modify or curtail their vacations accordingly.

This summer, there has been a significant surge in travel demand as tourists eagerly escape years of pandemic restrictions. Travel companies report that, so far, the heatwave has not resulted in many cancellations. In particular, British travelers have exhibited a preference for booking fewer holidays domestically and instead opting for Mediterranean destinations, often making these reservations several months in advance. Sean Tipton, representing the British

travel agent group ABTA, explains that this trend reflects the continued desire among Britons for beach getaways after the long period of lockdown. Despite the heat, tourists remain determined to enjoy their vacations and are eagerly embracing opportunities for travel.

However, this balance between travel demand and heatwave tolerance could shift in the future, considering the anticipated intensification of heatwaves. Scientists have consistently cautioned that climate change, primarily driven by CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels, will lead to more frequent, severe, and even life-threatening weather events.

Meteorologists forecast that temperatures in the upcoming week may exceed Europe's current record of 48.8 degrees Celsius (119.84 Fahrenheit), which was set in Sicily in August 2021. This prediction raises concerns about the potential recurrence of heat-related fatalities witnessed last year.

As the impacts of climate change become more pronounced, the potential risks associated with extreme heat could increasingly impact travel decisions and alter the preferences of tourists seeking more temperate destinations or different travel seasons.

Reports of tourists being airlifted off Italian beaches and requiring ambulance assistance at Athens' Acropolis have been extensively covered by European media in recent weeks. The head of the European Travel Commission, Miguel Sanz, noted that their research indicates a decline in the interest for travel during the peak month of August, while more Europeans are considering trips in the autumn.

In Rome, tourists have expressed their hesitations about booking trips in July due to the challenges they face in staying hydrated, finding cool areas, and locating air-conditioned spaces to rest. Some tourists even stated that the heat made their visits to Rome "miserable," with plans to only visit during cooler months like June or April.

These trends could have negative implications for Italy's economy, which heavily relies on bustling summer tourism. The Italian Environment Ministry's report highlights that foreign tourists may increasingly choose to travel in the spring and autumn, as well as opt for cooler destinations. The report also anticipates that Italian tourists themselves may contribute to the flow of international tourism to countries with milder climates.

In Greece, overcrowding in popular summer destinations such as Mykonos has become a persistent issue, but authorities believe that increased travel during the winter, spring, and autumn months could alleviate this problem and compensate for any potential summer slowdown.

Similarly, in Spain, coastal destinations in the cooler northern regions and Spanish tourist islands are expected to experience high demand. Spaniards themselves have expressed a willingness to shift their holidays to June for more pleasant weather conditions.

For Anita Elshoy, the experiences of uncomfortable heat in southern Europe may lead her to consider spending her holidays in her home country of Norway, stating her preference to avoid headaches and dizziness during her vacations. These individual experiences and preferences reflect the potential shift in tourist habits as travelers seek more comfortable and manageable climates for their holidays.