Most Londoners consider changing summer holiday plans due to extreme heatwaves - survey

Almost two thirds of Londoners are considering changing summer holiday plans due to fears of extreme heatwaves and life-threatening hazards such as wildfires. A survey commissioned by specialist travel insurers finds 83% of London holidaymakers fear many popular southern European destinations will become too hot to visit within five years. More than 60% plan to travel to cooler countries or regions further north, or take their two weeks in the sun outside peak summer months. Greece and Spain are most often cited as too hot by the 2030s, with Greece and Spain each mentioned by 25% of respondents. Wildfire impacts in Greece and Spain are linked to very high temperatures, including 45C in Greece and the worst wildfire season in decades in Spain.

"Almost two thirds of Londoners are considering changing their future summer holiday plans because of fears about extreme heatwaves and life threatening hazards such as wildfires. A new survey reveals increasing concern among London holidaymakers over the risks of having to cope with unbearable scorching temperatures in southern Europe in July and August. The Met Office has said that Monday may even pass the UK's all-time high reading for May of 32.8C set in Camden Square and Greenwich in 1922 and again in Tunbridge Wells and Horsham in 1944."

"The new research, commissioned by specialist travel insurers InsureandGo finds that 83% of London holidaymakers fear many popular southern European holiday destinations will soon be too hot to visit within five years. More than 60% are considering travelling to cooler countries or regions further north or, for those that can, taking their two weeks in the sun away from the peak summer months. The countries cited as too hot by the 2030s by most respondents were Greece and Spain, both being mentioned by 25% of those polled."

"In July last year Greece was ravaged by months of wildfires forcing the evacuation of 32,000 people, including 5,000 tourists on Crete, as temperatures reached 45C. Spain suffered its worst wildfire season in more than 30 years with almost 1 million of acres of land burned. Other too hot countries mentioned included Turkey and also the UK both with 19%, followed by Cyprus with 15% and Portugal on 14%."

Read at www.standard.co.uk