The Mediterranean: Too Hot to Holiday?
UNITED KINGDOM, November 11, 2005. "As a result of increasing temperatures, most of the Mediterranean coastal areas will become unsuitable for tourism during the summer months." This was the prediction made by climate change expert David Viner to European tour operators yesterday at the annual conference of the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA).
Dr Viner who from the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, pointed out that nine of the ten warmest years on record have occurred in the last decade and in 2003, the World Health Organisation attributed over 25,000 deaths in Europe to the July-August heat wave.
He said that the European Summer of 2003 provides a useful guide for the future and he forecast dramatic implications for the tourism industry, including:
. The skiing season will become shorter, as many low-lying ski-resorts in Alpine regions are vulnerable to an increase in winter temperatures and reduction in snow amounts
. Semi-arid destinations will become vulnerable to decreases in water availability. For example, a golf course in Spain uses the same amount of water as a town of 10 000.
. Sea-level rise in the Mediterranean will damage the quality of beaches, the environment and the tourism infrastructure.
. Increased fuel costs associated with increases in demand, decreases in supply and emissions taxation will result in higher prices.
. Travel patterns will change, creating new pressures on infrastructure and the environment.
. The tourism industry, as an increasing contributor to Greenhouse gas emissions, will need to adopt various greenhouse gas mitigation measures and contribute financially to the costs associated with climate change.
Tom Jenkins, Executive Director, ETOA, said: "ETOA members tend to use areas of cultural significance, concentrating on towns and not beach, golf or ski resorts. But climate change is becoming an ever more important issue for the tourism industry as a whole. It has the potential to shape demand, and so all facets of travel could be influenced. It is thus a subject of importance of immediate interest for everyone."
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