Tourists flock to the Mediterranean as if the climate crisis isn’t happening. This year’s heat and fire will force change

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 19:23:55 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/tourists-flock-to-the-mediterranean-as-if-the-climate-crisis-isnt-happening-this-years-heat-and-fire-will-force-change-210282>

"Thousands of people on the beach. Children reportedly falling off evacuation
boats. Panic. People fleeing with the clothes on their backs. It felt like “the
end of the world”, according to one tourist.

The fires sweeping through the Greek islands of Rhodes and Corfu are showing us
favourite holiday destinations are no longer safe as climate change
intensifies.

For decades, tourists have flocked to the Mediterranean for the northern
summer. Australians, Scandinavians, Brits, Russians all arrive seeking warmer
weather. After COVID, many of us have been keen to travel once again.

But this year, the intense heatwaves have claimed hundreds of lives in Spain
alone. Major tourist drawcards such as the Acropolis in Athens have been
closed. Climate scientists are “stunned by the ferocity” of the heat.

This year is likely to force a rethink for tourists and for tourism operators.
Expect to see more trips taken during shoulder seasons, avoiding the
increasingly intense July to August summer. And expect temperate countries to
become more popular tourist destinations. Warm-weather tourist destinations
will have to radically change."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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