Less snow is falling and the ski season is getting shorter.

Less snow is falling and the ski season is getting shorter. | CANTUR

Humphrey CarterMallorca12/08/2022 09:43
TW
5

Planes and cruise ships come and go, always will, but what about tourists? Climate change, in my humble opinion, is probably one of the biggest mid to long term challenges the industry faces.

In the Balearics, we are still enduring one of the hottest summers on record and I know a great number of locals who are heading north for their summer holidays, Iceland proving extremely popular. The south of Europe wants to get away from the heat while northern Europe wants some sun on their backs, but at what price. Just how long can one spend in this burning sun which is beating down on the Balearics and the rest of southern Europe?

That said, for those in the UK, for example, who still have not booked, with another heatwave about to hit the British Isles some may take one look at the airport chaos and the prices and decide to stay at home. But tourism is not all about sunshine and beaches. What about the winter ski industry?

The glaciers are melting, less snow is falling and the ski season is getting shorter. I was skiing at 3,500 metres in early February - it was 13ºC, people were at the snow bars with their shirts off - so how long does the future of the ski industry hold?

Granted, the weather is out of our control and I doubt all the emission reduction targets will be met on time. The impact of climate change could well alter people's holiday habits and some destinations could pay a high price.