A series of issues might create a complicated travel experience.
Air travel has continued to recover after the pandemic. According to the International Air Transport Association, 2022 ended on a much better note than how it entered, lifting annual global traffic to 68.5% of 2019 levels. Europe was a big market last year and it’s expected to be a major driver of tourist traffic in 2023. However, the European travel market has been plagued by worries.
Protests and strikes in popular destinations such as Paris, Berlin, London, and Madrid have continued for a variety of reasons, including labor concerns, retirement ages, and healthcare cuts. Plus, this winter has been unseasonably warm, an alarming, which has impacted winter travel destinations and generated worries about how this will affect the summer season.
Related: The 10 Cities in Europe Most Likely to Go on Strike and Cause Travel Chaos
Short Ski Season
Europe recorded the third-warmest January on record this year. The New Year’s weekend broke multiple records as countries reported all-time high temperatures. On January 1, 2023, Vaduz, Czech Republic, was 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit); Bilbao, Spain, was 24.9 degrees Celsius (76 degrees Fahrenheit); and Warsaw, Poland, 18.9 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit). These are the temperatures typically experienced in spring or summer.
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Travelers have been disappointed by the state of the slopes this year. Europe reported a shortage of snow and many low-lying resorts had to close early. In Switzerland, as temperatures reached 68 degrees Fahrenheit, resorts directed tourists to biking trails. Skiing is expected to become more expensive if resorts have to depend on artificial snow. But these activities will continue to be limited to an elite crowd or may disappear altogether in certain regions.
Dry Rivers and Canals
Along with a snow deficit, rainfall remains a problem. France experienced a record-breaking dry spell of 32 consecutive days and the land is parched. Italy’s Po River experienced a severe drought last year that resulted in a state of emergency. The river depends on snow from the Alps, in addition to rainfall, but it’s already lying low due to a lack of both, and the country fears another drought.
Sad pictures of the Venetian canals with mud and sludge replacing the calm waters were circulating everywhere this month. Gondolas remained unreliable this February as the water was too shallow or in some areas, completely dried up. The city normally plans for flooding of the canals in winter, but a lack of rainfall, low tides, and high pressure have brought water taxis and gondola rides to a halt. Water taxis and ambulances are a lifeline to the floating city, so the disruption has affected everyone in the lagoon.
Expect Summer Woes
Europe experienced a severe drought last year. Soaring temperatures were recorded in the U.K., France, Spain, and Italy, and wildfires raged across the continent. It is likely that the troubles will continue in 2023. If you’re planning a trip this summer, make sure to keep a check on heatwave warnings along with updates on planned labor strikes.
Plummeting groundwater and water scarcity will impact agriculture as well as wildlife. Communities will have restrictions on water usage, like Spain’s rules on water consumption in November. Confirm that the areas you’re planning to visit aren’t water-starved, where travelers may overburden limited resources, and don’t be disappointed if fountains or other tourist attractions aren’t how you remember them.
Travel seasons may shift if Europe continues to heat up. Rather than summer, spring may become the most pleasant time to fly to the continent. Professional skiers have written to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) to schedule races with sustainability in mind and shift the season, which usually runs from late October to mid-March, to late November to the end of April.