Report says UK holidaymakers not prepared for extreme holiday heat

New research from the Safer Tourism Foundation has revealed many UK travellers are not prepared for extreme heat abroad this summer and underestimate the associated risks.

It comes as the foundation plans a further workshop for travel firms later this month on how warmer weather is impacting travel safety and advice on how the industry can mitigate against the risks of extreme heat through their operations and communications with customers.  Workshops have already been held in May and June.

The survey of 2,000 UK travellers, conducted by OnePoll, found 40% of respondents have experienced weather or climate-related health issues while on holiday, with 35% specifically affected by heat or sunshine.

It showed that 35% of those who experienced heat-related illness said they were in ‘holiday mode’ and didn’t think the weather would affect them, while 22% were unaware the weather could impact them at all.

The findings highlighted most travellers do not understand the difference between heat exhaustion symptoms, which include muscle cramping, headaches and dizziness, and can be treated with resting and hydrating, and heat stroke, which is a medical emergency and has symptons such as confusion, hot dry skin and a body temperature of more than 40C.

The poll revealed that travellers were adapting to the heat with 62% carrying water bottles; 61% wearing breathable clothing; 46% booking air-conditioned accommodation; and 33% planning activities earlier in the day.

But fewer were checking their insurance coverage (21%), ensuring safe medication storage (12%), or booking with heat-aware tour operators (9%).

The poll’s results showed 33% of travellers would reconsider a destination due to heat and more than half, 54%, would consider travelling at a different time of year.  However, 22% said they would not reconsider unless temperatures exceeded 40C.

The survey findings come as temperatures in parts of Spain, Greece, Turkey, and Italy go above 40C weeks ahead of schools breaking up for the main summer holiday.

The extreme heat has led to travel advisories for Spain, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) while wildfires in Turkey forced flights to be grounded at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport on Sunday (June 29).

Safer Tourism Foundation chief executive Katherine Atkinson said it was vital holidaymakers understood the risks of extreme heat.

She said: “Heat affects all of us differently. As climate change drives increasingly extreme temperatures across popular travel destinations, it’s vital travellers understand how extreme heat affects us as individuals.”

She added: “If travellers and travel professionals can identify the symptoms, they’re less likely to delay seeking treatment, allowing conditions to worsen. We’re urging everyone to think ahead, prepare properly, and take heat seriously. Because heat can kill.” 

She urged tour operators, travel agents and associations to register their interest in the next workshop at the end of July. It is designed to create a more nuanced understanding of the risk of heat among travel providers to ensure they take account of this in their operations and products.

It will cover climate, weather, heatwaves, unequal distribution of heat, how heat affects different people, treating the impact of heat, prevention and mitigation; suppliers, audit, product and customer communications.

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