The tourist season has gotten off to a shaky start in what Newsweek magazine has dubbed “Greece’s Hellish Summer,” with at least 10 tourists having gone missing or been found dead in Greece in the past few weeks. The tragic string of deaths and missing comes as the country is hit by a heatwave with temperatures reaching 40 degrees in some places.
“It was really too hot,” a tourist who had just returned from the Acropolis told us, “we walked around but couldn’t stay long, so we decided to take a taxi back. [to the hotel]. [The heat] It’s getting really bad.”
The weather comes after last year’s heatwaves, which were exacerbated by rising temperatures, erratic rains that caused devastating floods, and dust storms. “In the 20th century, we never had a heatwave until June 19th. In the 21st century, we’ve had a few, but never until June 15th,” said Panos Giannopoulos, chief meteorologist at Greece’s National Meteorological Service. “This heatwave will go down in history.”
Authorities have implemented safety measures to minimize possible risks during the peak of the heatwaves, including closing schools, limiting in-person work for public employees and setting aside air-conditioned spaces for the general public.
“We do it the Greek way and go to the beach after 4pm, sometimes after 7pm. Between noon and 4pm we don’t really do anything except drive with the air conditioning on or have a coffee or lunch.”
In addition to record temperatures, the country is expecting an unprecedented number of tourists: 35 million tourists are expected to visit the country in 2024, a 7% increase from 2023. The extreme heat is already having an impact, with emergency services being deployed to tourist sites, bottled water being distributed, and access to archaeological sites being restricted during peak heat hours.
As for the tourist deaths that have been making headlines in several countries around the world, reports suggest that they too may be linked to extreme weather conditions. Scientists who spoke to CNN speculate that heat may inhibit normal brain activity and exacerbate existing physiological conditions. While the bodies of the deceased are awaiting tests to determine the exact cause of death, authorities continue to warn against strenuous exercise in extreme weather conditions.
“There is a common pattern,” South Aegean police spokesman Petros Vasilakis told Reuters about the deaths. “They had all been out hiking in high temperatures.”
These heat waves are not just making travel to Greece uncomfortable or putting a bit of a damper on tourist itineraries: recent news reports have pointed to a crisis in the tourism industry, which is struggling with the conditions. If, as many experts believe, these heat waves continue or worsen over time, the impact on tourism will be significant, making Greece a less attractive destination for those looking to enjoy an active holiday.
Tourism has already taken a hit since the start of the year, as archaeological sites and other tourist attractions have been forced to close for parts of the day. The inconvenience of having to reschedule visits to ruins is only part of the problem here. As other news outlets have noted, tourists are no longer just navigating routes to access ancient ruins, but also to avoid the dangers of modern climate change.
National sentiment
Sophie, a travel influencer who goes by the name @tzatchickie and boasts over 120,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram, eased other travellers’ fears over the recent tragedy: “Greece is in the middle of its second heatwave in three weeks. It’s so hot… But if you’re coming to Greece in the summer, don’t plan endless hikes and visiting ruins. Wear a hat, apply sunscreen and drink plenty of water.”
When we asked Sophie about her experience traveling during the heatwaves, she said, “We travel by car, so traveling by car during the day is actually not that bad. [air conditioning] “By car or boat!” she continued. “We do it the Greek way: we go to the beach after 4pm, sometimes even 7pm. Between noon and 4pm we don’t do anything special except drive with the air conditioning on or have a coffee or lunch…”
“All the influencers posting about Greece have mentioned warnings about the heat and we all agree, as do most of the people commenting,” she said of the restrictions imposed on ruins and avoiding the hottest times of the day. “During the first heatwave, we visited ruins such as the castle and Ancient Olympia, but only after 5pm. It was still hot, but the castle was closed from 1pm to 5pm due to government rules, which is great and understandable.”
“Of course there will always be people who have different opinions or do things differently,” Sophie said of tourists who might oppose the restrictions. “I’ve seen a lot of people cycling on mountain trails between noon and 2pm… in my opinion that’s just insane.”
Others shared their experiences traveling during the heatwaves. TikTok was filled with videos of tourists sweating to beat the 40-degree heat. [during] “I got heat stroke from taking a nap,” one user commented, while another captioned a video of themselves in the heat: “Currently in Greece it’s a 40 degree heatwave and I can’t breathe.”
The weather is also taking a toll on tourism workers. “We have no choice, it’s the start of the tourist season,” Elisabeth Robou, a fast-food restaurant owner, told The Guardian. “We have air conditioning and fans, our staff are allowed to take breaks, but unfortunately the climate crisis is here.”
Greeks and travellers familiar with Greece will tell you that high temperatures were the norm during the Greek summer, if not at current levels. As one local resident put it: “Don’t go hiking when temperatures are 35-40 degrees, it’s dangerous. In Greece, that’s the time to go to the beach, not the time to hike or go for walks.”
European tourism boom
Greece is not alone in being hit by bad weather this year: “Europe continued to experience a year of rising temperatures and more extreme weather, including record high temperatures causing heatstroke, wildfires, heatwaves, ice loss from glaciers and lack of snowfall,” said Elisabeth Hamdoush, deputy head for Copernicus at the EU executive commission.
This summer comes on the heels of growing opposition to fast-growing tourism and the strain it places on local communities. Now, travel demand has surged since the pandemic, and total tourist numbers are expected to exceed 2019 levels, according to the UNWTO World Tourism Indicators. But places like Venice, Barcelona and the Canary Islands are on a growing list of places calling for tourism restrictions.
From the congested canals of Venice to the long queues to reach the summit of Mount Everest to a couple inscribing their names into the 2,000-year-old amphitheatre of the Colosseum, headlines abound showing why locals in tourist destinations are crying out for relief.
There’s another factor to consider: in addition to the direct costs to local residents, the way we travel has a significant impact on the environment. A recent report by the Travel Foundation, an independent organization that works to create a better, fairer, and more climate-friendly tourism industry, noted that tourism already accounts for 8% to 11% of global direct and indirect CO2 emissions. If we continue on this pace, all emissions will skyrocket, with direct emissions alone increasing by 73% between 2019 and 2050.
“Travel is touted as a quasi-spiritual experience, and we’ve internalized the idea that visiting as many places as possible will make us fundamentally more interesting people and that it’s a virtue, but this bucket-list travel mindset is the same as the more-is-more mindset that leads to overconsumption in all areas of life,” the TikTok user said.
The way we travel is one of many factors that affect the environment, but it is part of a cycle that has influenced recent climate conditions. However, it is important to recognise that tourism is the bedrock of the Greek economy, accounting for a third of Greece’s GDP. A study by the Greek Tourism Business Association (INSETE) estimated that tourism contributes between 62.8 and 75.6 billion euros in direct and secondary benefits, or 28.5% to 34.3% of GDP. Given this economic dependence, the problem requires a different solution than simply chasing people away.
A new direction for the industry
Recent developments have made a holiday in Greece seem unpleasant at best and deadly at worst, putting pressure on the travel industry. Ben Lynam, director of communications at the Travel Foundation, told The Economist: “The travel industry is now taking a closer look to make sure they’re not just paying lip service to the issues that are really weighing on the travel industry.”
Experts suggest sustainable alternatives to current ways of traveling, to help both consumers and industry reduce the strain on local residents and the environmental impact of tourism. Solutions include switching to eco-friendly transport instead of flying, limiting the number of visitors to certain places and regions, and working with industry to implement sustainability measures. Some tourists also choose to take “off-season” holidays in Greece during the autumn and winter months, when the weather is more suitable for strenuous outdoor activities.
When it comes to steps tourists can take right now to enjoy the summer while reducing the risks, travel influencer Sophie offers this advice: “People need to understand that July and August are not great months for sightseeing or hiking. It’s for the beach and the pool, not an active holiday. It’s definitely getting hotter, and you need to adjust your plans accordingly.”
Tatiana Geroulanou is a summer intern at Kathimerini English Edition and is in her final year at Williams College in Massachusetts, where she is pursuing a BA in History and Art History.
