Travel Woes in Europe

 

In addition to crushing crowds, summer 2023 in Europe has been marked by another significant challenge—the increasingly unbearable temperatures. Throughout Southern Europe, a multi-week heat wave smashed records in July. From Spain to Turkey and the Mediterranean Sea, temperatures soared, reaching 109 degrees in Rome, Italy on July 18 and 113.5 degrees on the very same day in the Catalonia region of northeast Spain, according to Weather Underground.


These sorts of record temperatures are not only likely here to stay, but may well grow worse as countries around the world continue to fall significantly short of targets to address global warming.

Amid this backdrop, Intrepid Travel CEO James Thornton is predicting that in the coming years, travel to Southern Europe during peak summer season will simply be a no-go.

“In five to 10 years, I think it will prove challenging to travel around southern Europe during July and August,” Thornton recently told the publication Financial Review. “Most people just won’t want to, it will be far too hot.”

Visiting destinations like Greece in July and August will simply be untenable, predicts Thornton, who is one of three top executives from the company expressing such concerns. Thornton's sentiments were echoed by Intrepid Co-founder Darrell Wade and the company's President of the Americas, Matt Berna.

 

Summer 2023 in Europe has posed a major challenge beyond the bustling crowds—the intensifying and unbearable temperatures. Southern Europe experienced a prolonged heat wave in July, shattering previous records. From Spain to Turkey and the Mediterranean Sea, temperatures skyrocketed, with Rome, Italy, reaching 109 degrees and the Catalonia region in northeast Spain hitting a scorching 113.5 degrees on July 18, as reported by Weather Underground.

These record-breaking temperatures are not a passing trend; rather, they are likely to persist and worsen due to the world's failure to meet global warming targets. As a result, travel in Southern Europe during the peak summer season is predicted to become increasingly unviable in the coming years.

Intrepid Travel CEO James Thornton foresees a future where traveling to Southern Europe in July and August will simply be a no-go. According to Thornton, within the next five to 10 years, it will become exceedingly challenging for people to explore destinations like Greece during these months due to the oppressive heat. He believes that the scorching temperatures will deter most travelers from visiting the region, making it far too uncomfortable.

Thornton's concerns are shared by other high-ranking executives within Intrepid Travel. Co-founder Darrell Wade and the company's President of the Americas, Matt Berna, also echo his sentiments about the potential hardships of summer travel in Southern Europe. As global temperatures continue to rise, these industry insiders predict that certain destinations in the region will become untenable during the hottest months of the year.