The temperature records of the summer of 2022, when the heat in the resorts of Europe went over +40 degrees, will be repeated in the summer season of 2023. In other words, all last year's problems will only get worse, and a warm snowless winter will add trouble to the coming summer season: for example, a lack of snow will turn into a lack of water. So “good old Europe” is waiting for a repeat of last year’s nightmare, and tourists are not recommended to go there – even if we assume that planes from Russia to the EU will fly again. This picture was presented by the Association of Russian Tour Operators (ATOR) from local analysts.
The past winter season for Europe turned out to be record warm and snowless. Switzerland recorded the highest winter temperature north of the Alps: +19.4°C. And in Spain, in January, thermometers showed + 25 ° C at all. At the same time, in addition to several “snow volleys” that blocked roads and stopped trains, there was also a problem with snow – in France and Switzerland, ski resorts massively stopped working. But this is not the only problem – a snowless winter will “backfire” with problems in the summer – experts are sure.
ATOR cites data from Copernicus, the EU's climate change agency, which has spooked European tourists with the coming summer season's challenges. Abnormal heat will continue to “overwhelm” Europe, and not only the south, but also Northern Europe. There is a risk that the temperature records of 2022 will be broken – and they, we recall, reached 45 ° C and above. Analysts estimate the probability of such an outcome at 60%.
The hellish heat will be exacerbated by the consequences of a snowless winter – European cities, resorts and beaches may be left without water. Europe is facing water shortages, according to a study published in January by researchers at the Graz University of Technology in Austria, who studied satellite data on groundwater resources. The dry period was promised to the resorts of France, Italy and Spain. The authorities of the first are already ready to impose restrictions on water consumption. It's not just the fountains that are planned to be shut down that will be “affected”, as Christophe Bechou, France's minister of environmental change, said. It is likely that a water supply limit will be introduced. In Italy, where an island in the middle of the famous Lake Garda can now be reached on foot – the water level is so low – there is a serious discussion of technologies that can replace a shower on the beach after swimming in the sea – such as disposable “frozen” wet towels that can be wiped off and removed salt from the skin. True, it is not environmentally friendly. But it is likely that there will not be enough water for beach showers. In Spain, hoteliers are already officially warned about problems with water supply: there may not be enough water not only for household needs, such as filling pools, but even for drinking. “Warn tourists about this in advance,” the authorities say. At the same time, in Catalonia, the government already limited water consumption in 150 municipalities last year, and in Malaga, beach showers were already turned off.
Against this background, tourists are threatened with technogenic risks – such as damage to airport GDP due to heat and stop trains because of her; as well as natural disasters – in the first place, fires, which can always be expected in conditions of heat and drought. By the way, not only Europe is obviously at risk, but also other resort countries, including Turkey. Against this background, the problems of European cruise operators can be considered “trifle”; But new popularity is predicted for “dry tourism” – from the bottom of shallow rivers and reservoirs, flooded ships and buildings, “hunger stones” and other artifacts that tourists rush to see “appear” from the bottom.
For those who care about healthy lifestyle, we recommend reading: “A Russian woman in Turkey almost went bald after the coronavirus and reported how she stopped hair loss.”
