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.