With the temperatures in Europe being at their peak this summer, travel trends are expected to make a shift in the next years.
Due to global warming, Europe’s tourism demand especially in coastal areas is expected to reshuffle, with April becoming the new July, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Since the temperatures are anticipated to be high in the next years too, the interest of tourists to visit Europe in July will fall. Instead, more travellers will choose to take a trip in April as the temperatures will be more bearable during this month.
As the Commission of the European Union explains, projections show that a temperature increase of three or four degrees Celsius will reduce the number of tourists during summer by almost ten per cent in southern coastal regions.
On the other hand, the demand will increase for northern costs by five per cent and more people will choose to travel before the summer season officially begins.
“Across the continent, tourist interest will fall in July and grow in April. With the seasonal shift of demand across the continent, tourism will still grow, according to the projections,” the statement of the EU Commission reads.
According to a new JRC study, in aggregated terms, April is expected to register the highest tourist flow increase reaching +8.89 per cent compared to the present scenario.
In contrast, the largest decline in tourism demand in Europe is projected for July with up to a 5.72 per cent decrease under the warmest climate scenario.
Shifts in travel demand have been recorded this year too, with extreme heat prompting tourists to seek cooler alternatives to Europe.
Italy, France, Greece, and Portugal, which welcome millions of arrivals each summer have registered some of the highest temperatures. Due to the high temperatures, these destinations have been dealing with wildfires, threatening the travel plans of visitors.
>> Wildfires in Europe: Is It Safe to Travel to Greece & Italy?
Being caught in a natural disaster while away from home can be a challenging experience. For this reason, it is important that everyone purchases travel insurance before their trip.
Europe travel insurance is designed to provide financial protection as well as assistance to EU and non-EU travellers in case of unexpected events. Nonetheless, the coverage depends on the insurance provider and specific policy.
Some of the travel insurance companies offering coverage for natural disasters in Europe are Allianz Travel Insurance, Europ Assistance, AXA Travel Insurance, DR-WALTER, Mondial Care, and Mutuaide.