Wildfires in key summer-sun destinations have yet to spark cancellations for the coming weeks but one Portugal-based agent has warned that further blazes may make customers think twice about travelling.
Pippa O’Keefe, a homeworker with 360 Private Travel who divides her time between Portugal and Bath, was among agents who reported that customers were currently continuing with holidays as planned.
But she fears the extreme temperatures in Portugal, Spain, France and Greece will continue in the coming weeks, and could affect clients’ confidence.
More: Foreign Office warns of forest fire risk in Spain and Portugal
Evacuation orders issued near Athens due to wildfires
“Portugal suffers from forest fires every year, but they are normally much worse in August because the heat is higher,” she said. “So they are absolutely going to continue throughout the summer.
“I’ve got clients booked through to the end of the summer who don’t seem too concerned yet. But I worry that they will [become anxious] when it gets closer to their trip.”
O’Keefe’s parents live in Quinta do Lago, an exclusive resort in the Algarve, and were evacuated along with tourists when wildfires affected some private villas and part of a golf course last week.
“It is concerning that these fires, which tend to happen more in the mountains, are now beginning to happen in touristy areas,” she said.
O’Keefe attributed the lack of cancellations to customers’ desire to fulfil holiday plans, adding: “It feels as if the travel industry has been under constant battles these past two years – and customers are exhausted.
“They have faced so many obstacles that, if not the fires, there will be something else causing a problem, such as flight cancellations or Covid. They just want to go
away regardless.”
The Foreign Office has updated its advice for Spain, Portugal, France and Slovenia to reflect the dangers posed by “exceptionally high” temperatures, and evacuation orders have been issued for the north of Athens.
The fires came as the UK also witnessed extreme temperatures, which caused travel disruption. Luton airport suspended flights on July 18 after the heatwave caused a surface defect on the runway.
Additionally, passengers travelling to the airport faced rail disruption the following day as Thameslink and East Midlands Railway suspended services between Bedford, and St Pancras International and London Blackfriars.
More: Foreign Office warns of forest fire risk in Spain and Portugal