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"In the summers of the 2080s, tourists from Britain and Germany will be able to find much better climatic conditions in their own country than in the Mediterranean," says a joint British / Dutch study in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism.
About 100 million people - mostly from northern Europe,
notably Germany and Britain - visit the Mediterranean region every year where
they spend almost US$100 billion. Any change could have a huge impact on
economies on both sides of the Mediterranean.
"People don't want to go looking for sun, sea and sand and be forced to sit in the shade because it's too hot," said David Viner, a senior climate scientist at the University of East Anglia. Beaches in northern Europe could become more attractive to holidaymakers – Northern Europe’s heatwave this year means that some are travelling to Mediterranean beaches and finding the weather no warmer than at home. "Those conditions will become more prevalent in future," said Viner. Perhaps even Blackpool might be preferable!
Apart from extreme temperatures, the Mediterranean region
might be less attractive because it would suffer more frequent water shortages
and forest fires. The study suggested the region would become more suitable for
tourism outside the summer, but warned that Mediterranean countries' tourism incomes
could decline, even if more spread out.
Recent surveys have suggested that more Brits are holidaying at home (oh yes, and probably abroad as well...) so they could be right. Or you could be right to avoid them...
