Travel experts have warned that European holiday destinations are reaching full capacity earlier each season, with overcrowding now visible at landmarks including the Acropolis in Athens, the Trevi Fountain in Rome and the Vatican. The warning comes as new data shows tourism is surging across the continent.
The European Travel Commission said business is up by five per cent compared with the same time last year, though experts cautioned that not all countries are managing the boom equally well. Spain is expected to be the hardest-hit, with the country on course for a record 100 million tourists this year, according to The Daily Mail.
Spain at record levels
Travel adviser Kevin Schreck, who lives in Valencia, told the newspaper: "In this area of the Mediterranean, tourism has been going up consistently for the past three years, and we've been hitting max capacity earlier and earlier." He said: "We've definitely seen a big influx compared to the last few years... even now, despite the heatwaves and anti-tourist protests in the area, it continues to rise." "From my perspective, it's starting to become rather unsustainable. I wouldn't necessarily say that Spain is coping rather well, even if the numbers look positive from one angle," he added.
Luxury rental provider Nero Line said peak weeks are now being booked earlier, leaving less room to manoeuvre than in past seasons. The firm attributed a "meaningful share" of the uplift to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as holidaymakers steer clear of Turkey, Egypt and Cyprus in favour of western and central Europe.
OECD warning
A report from the OECD last month warned that "concentrated visitor flows are placing pressure on infrastructure and communities in some destinations" and added that a lack of "robust infrastructure" in some places could hinder quality experiences.
Wildfires and casualties
The soaring visitor numbers come despite environmental challenges, with wildfires causing havoc across Spain and southwestern France, including the evacuation of 200,000 people. Last month, seven British nationals were among 13 people who died after devastating wildfires swept through southern Spain.
A spokeswoman for the Guardia Civil in Almeria said that, along with the seven British deaths, there were three fatalities from Belgium and one each from the United States, France and Spain. The Andalusian government said a 93-year-old British woman was taken to hospital on Friday after suffering burns to about 20% of her body; she later died on Sunday afternoon, while the remains of another four British victims were found in a burnt-out car.
