It will be a familiar scene for many in the coming weeks: crowded airport filled with people heading off for summer vacations. But peak travel times are no longer as predictable, as more people are opting to travel during the off-peak season – the so-called “shoulder season.”
Travel companies are reporting an increase in demand between March and early May, and from September to October, as tourists try to avoid heat waves and overtourism.
Intrepid Travel, an adventure travel company for small groups, told The Guardian that last year it saw a 61% increase in off-peak bookings for Western Europe. This year, Intrepid has increased the number of departures to Spain, Italy, Portugal, and France by 47% in April and 27% in October.
According to Intrepid, the shift in tourist interest is due to rising temperatures across Europe. Greece recorded its first heat wave in June this year, when temperatures reached 38ºC (100ºF) for more than three consecutive days. Temperatures in Turkey exceeded 40ºC last week, with 66 million people exposed to extreme heat for days, according to the independent climate science group Climate Central.
Raph Giacardi, editor-in-chief of the website HolidayPirates, confirmed the theory by stating that people “are not willing to travel while a heat wave is sweeping through Europe.” He added: “To avoid the extreme heat, we will see more tourists during the off-peak season, in September and October, when temperatures are still high but more comfortable, and there are much better deals on flights, hotels, and vacation packages, not to mention that the crowds tend to be much smaller too.”
The countries with the most significant changes compared to peak summer months include Mediterranean hotspots like Croatia. However, countries like Sweden have also seen similar shifts.
Concerns about overtourism in certain popular destinations have also been raised recently. A new tourist tax was introduced in Bali in February. There are also higher hotel taxes in Amsterdam and Paris, and stricter rules regarding the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public in Milan and Mallorca.
In some areas of Milan, city leaders have banned people from sitting outdoors after 12:30 PM during the week and from 1:30 PM on weekends, in response to complaints from residents. They have also limited the nighttime sale of food and drinks for takeout.
All of this is an attempt to curb tourist abuses and provide some peace to locals.
Source: The Guardian