Travelers Heading North For Summer Coolcations In Europe

The shores of Denmark are recording peak visitors and bookings

getty

Northern Europe is having what Bloomberg calls ‘a travel moment’ and while it may not be beating southern Europe yet in terms of numbers, the climate crisis, remote working and overcrowding are pushing tourists north to seek out ‘coolcations’.

Take the shores of Jutland, where continental Denmark hits the North sea, for instance—VisitDenmark reports an increase in visitor numbers of 119% in 2023 and while the water temperature once required a wet suit, the rise in summer temperatures means that’s no longer the case. What a perfect opportunity then, for these new travelers to join the locals and regular German visitors and sample the traditional villages, surfing beaches and fresh prawns. One of the draws in Jutland particularly, is that the Danish government minimizes foreign investment and construction—it just means that you might not find a hotel room if it gets too crowded.

Likewise, VisitSweden is advertising coolcations that not only tick the right temperature box for heat-weary travelers but also advertise more sustainable holidays too. Overnight stays in northern Europe since 2019 are up 38% in Denmark, 18% in Norway and 9% in Sweden. Overtourism in some of the more southern destinations is another reason that people are seeking the more remote, untouched areas of the north.

While researchers at Princeton are looking at ways to cool down green spaces in cities, it will take time, and meanwhile cities across Europe such as Paris and Berlin were already reaching 30 degrees at the end of June and Greece has been fighting forest fires during its earliest ever heatwave. Other parts of Europe are already facing water shortages while others have flooded.

Travelers Visiting Southern Europe More In The Shoulder Season To Avoid The Heat

CNN reports that shoulder seasons used to be the cheaper times to travel to southern Europe—think Italy in the fall—but prices are now rising in these traditionally low seasons as travelers check out Greece’s Acropolis in the fall or spring instead. Throw in the rise of remote working and access to Digital Nomad visas—all of it leads to a disruption of traditional holidays patterns and prices.

It’s not yet clear what impact climate change will have on European destinations but the Mediterranean Sea is heating up faster than the global average, is expected to rise by one metre by 2100 and the surrounding cities will likely suffer the strongest from the hot North African air. It’s these countries that are the most affected by rising temperatures from the climate crisis that also rely heavily on tourism—The Telegraph reports that tourism accounts for 18% of GDP in Greece, 12% in Spain and nearly 11% in Italy.

An EU Technical report from 2023 expects there to be a clear change in tourism patterns as a result of the climate crisis, with people choosing to holiday in the north of Europe and avoiding the south. They might also head to the mountains.

In the worst case scenario outlined, if global average temperature increase by 4 degrees, then compared to 2019 figures, Greece’s tourism could drop by 7%—while Scandinavian countries’ tourism could increase by around the same amount.

Maybe Not Everyone’s Heading North, Just Yet

Most tourists that visit Europe are still heading south. Portugal, Italy, Spain and France have already all surpassed visitor numbers for 2019, driven by visiting Americans taking advantage of a strong dollar, and lots of intra-European travel. Southern Europe is still leading the pack for summer holidays, where the seaside is still the biggest draw, as per 2024 Statista data, as well as city breaks (rural breaks are more favored by tourists in western Europe).

Bloomberg reports that tourists are expected to contribute $800 million to the European economy, as per a new report by the European Travel Commission, and that they still favor the south. Despite searing temperatures across Greece, brought on by climate change impacts, it remains incredibly popular in 2024 with a reported huge increase in ‘fancy—yet—affordable hotel options’. Eduardo Santander, chief executive officer at European Travel Commission told Bloomberg that tourists continue “to prioritize warm weather and value-for-money” still found in southern Europe.

Source link : https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2024/07/18/travelers-heading-north-for-summer-coolcations-in-europe/

Author :

Publish date : 2024-07-18 06:23:55

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.