European holiday destinations are “hitting max capacity earlier and earlier”, travel experts have warned, as overcrowding builds at landmarks including the Acropolis in Athens, the Trevi fountain in Rome and the Vatican.
Not every country is coping well with the boom, the experts added, after the European Travel Commission reported business is up 5% compared with the same time last year.
Spain on course for 100 million tourists
Spain is facing unprecedented demand and is on track for a record-breaking 100 million tourists this year, according to The Daily Mail.
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 added: “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.” He also said: “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.”
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 avoid Turkey, Egypt and Cyprus and instead choose western and central Europe.
Pressure on infrastructure
A report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) last month said “concentrated visitor flows are placing pressure on infrastructure and communities in some destinations”, adding that a lack of “robust infrastructure” in some places could hinder quality experiences.
The rise in visitor numbers comes despite environmental challenges, with wildfires causing havoc across Spain and south-western France and leading to 200,000 people being evacuated.
Wildfire deaths
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, and later died on Sunday afternoon. The remains of another four British victims were found in a burnt-out car.
