Rising numbers of visitors headed for destinations in northern Europe in the summer of 2026, seeking respite from the heat.
For years, summer holidays in Europe have followed a familiar pattern: head south in search of sunshine. But climate change is beginning to turn that logic on its head.
As temperatures rise across southern Europe, traditionally popular destinations are facing increasingly difficult summer conditions, from extreme hot temperatures to wildfires and water shortages.
Rather than abandoning summer travel, some tourists are beginning to change the destinations they want to spend time in. The trend has even acquired a name: the “coolcation”. For an individual traveller, this can be a sensible response to rising temperatures. A cooler destination can make outdoor activities more comfortable and allow people to continue taking summer holidays while avoiding the most intense heat.
Read the full article on The Conversation
Suggested citation: Mehri Khosravi. “Coolcations: tourism boom is taking a toll on chillier destinations.” The Conversation, 7 October 2026.
Suggested citation: Mehri Khosravi. "Coolcations: tourism boom is taking a toll on chillier destinations," United Nations University, UNU-INWEH, 2026-10-08, https://unu.edu/inweh/article/coolcations-tourism-boom-taking-toll-chillier-destinations.
