Here’s How Climate Change Is Having A Long-Term Impact On Summer Vacations

While heat waves are nothing new this time of year, the prolonged and extreme nature of hot spells in recent years have fueled concerns about the impact climate change is having on the planet. And although it might not be the most pressing factor, evidence shows that more frequent high temperatures are fundamentally changing how we vacation during the summer.

Choose your destination wisely

With kids out of school, summer has long been a peak travel season for families looking to get away. That hasn’t changed, but these days new tourist destinations are gaining popularity.

If you’re thinking that people are flocking to places like Minnesota or Alaska, that’s generally not the case. Instead, they’re looking at some spots you might not initially consider a respite from the heat … like Florida.

A hotel manager in Delray Beach, for example, said reservations have increased significantly compared to last year. And while some of these guests are from elsewhere across the Sunshine State, others are coming from locations that are typically much cooler, like New York and Pennsylvania.

That doesn’t mean that Florida will offer lower temperatures. As much of the Midwest and Northeast has been hit with almost unprecedented heat, however, Cathay Balestriere says her neck of the woods at least offers “the ocean breeze and access to the beach and refreshing pools.”

Planning an international escape

Some countries are geographically more protected against warming trends, and they’ve seen a major boost in tourism as a result. Nordic countries have seen a particularly large spike in bookings:

• The region overall has seen a 25% bump since 2023
• In Sweden, the increase currently stands at 47%
• Iceland leads them all with a nearly 50% surge

There’s even been a 33% increase in the Netherlands despite that country’s effort to reduce tourism.

Chris Agee July 8th, 2024

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