Despite it being the beginning of summer, temperatures are already hovering around 40°C in many parts of southern Europe, including many tourist destinations, creating stifling conditions. The European summer is getting hotter, with heatwaves recorded earlier than normal in places like Greece, while some regions are experiencing record droughts, some of which have been going on since last year.
In response to rising temperatures and dwindling water reserves, local authorities across the continent are introducing water restrictions, which will affect both tourists and residents. If you’re travelling to areas affected by extreme heat and drought, always check bulletins from local authorities and the Foreign Office’s country-specific travel advice or ask your travel operator. The Safer Tourism Foundation also offers advice for holidaymakers.
Italy
Sicily
The Mediterranean’s largest island is one of the latest tourist destinations to be hit by scorching heat and a lack of rain. A state of emergency was declared in late February after a scant winter, leading to rationing in many areas. Now tourists visiting the Italian island, particularly around the southern coast town of Agrigento, are reportedly being turned away from bed and breakfasts that are running low on water.
Agrigento is famous for its Valley of the Temples, a complex of ancient Greek temples. Francesco Picarella, local representative of hoteliers association Federal Berghi, told The Times: “Water is supplied two or three times a week. Every house has a cistern to store water, but for some it is not enough. The situation is the same throughout Sicily, but it is even worse here because leaks in the water pipes have reduced water supplies by 50 percent.”
“In places where there is no water, tourists are flocking to other B&Bs. Even though it’s only June.”
Agrigento’s mayor, Franco Micci, is calling for the use of desalination plants to address the water shortage problem.
Towns like Taormina are a big draw for tourists visiting the Mediterranean’s largest island (Photo: Gary Yowell/Getty)
The capital, Palermo, on the island’s north coast, known for its bustling markets and medieval ruins including a cathedral and Arab-Norman palace, may have to start restricting water supplies after months of drought have reduced reservoir levels.
Capri
Last Saturday, maritime authorities on the luxury resort island of Capri banned entry to tourists arriving by ferry or hydrofoil from Naples and Sorrento after a serious water crisis forced the island to restrict entry, leaving parts of the tiny island with little water supply.
The extreme response was due to a breakdown in the water system, which has since been fixed, but the only alternative source of water is a local reservoir, where water pressure is even higher in warmer months. “The health and hygiene situation is critical. We have taken measures, activated our crisis management unit and issued restriction orders,” said the island’s mayor, Paolo Franco.
“The emergency situation will be exacerbated by the thousands of tourists who visit Capri every day.”
Spain
Andalusia is expecting 35 million tourists this year, but the region has been suffering from a prolonged drought for several years. Heavy spring rains have raised extremely low reservoir levels, but measures are being taken to maintain water supplies in some places.
Meanwhile, regional president Juanma Moreno announced a 40 million euro (£34 million) aid scheme for tourism companies that invest in water-saving and reuse systems and climate change-focused projects.
Cadiz
Last week, the coastal municipality of Cádiz, on the Costa de la Luz, announced it was removing beach showers in response to a severe drought. By mid-June, water levels had fallen to 29.21 percent.
The beach shower restrictions include some exceptions, such as in San Fernando, where showers are reserved for people with reduced mobility. The restrictions were imposed in Cádiz, known for its vast sandy beaches such as Bolonia and El Palamar, as tourism exceeded pre-COVID levels for the first time.
Costa del Sol
Showers have been suspended on beaches around Marbella (Photo: John Harper/Getty)
East of Cadiz, several authorities along the popular Costa del Sol renewed high season water restrictions in early June, which will continue until September 30th.
Showers have been closed at all 41 Blue Flag beaches along the coast due to the water shortage. A few showers will remain operational in disabled areas. To avoid further restrictions, the region, which includes popular resorts such as Malaga and Marbella, must adhere to a maximum quota of 200 litres per resident per day.
Greece
The Greek island of Leros has declared a state of emergency due to a lack of water (Photo: Vassilis Tsikkinis)
Greece was hit by its earliest heatwave on record this year, causing deaths and injuries and sending temperatures to over 50 degrees Celsius in some places. “People need to understand that climate change is happening and take great care,” Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis warned.
Temperatures remain high in many parts of the country, increasing the likelihood of water shortages during the busy school holiday period on islands such as Santorini, Corfu and Mykonos.
Last week, authorities in Kalamata, the capital of Messinia in the southwest of the Peloponnese peninsula, warned tourists and residents to conserve water. Water reserves in the popular seaside city are strained as summer approaches, and water supplies were cut off to some homes this week.
Meanwhile, the government of Leros, one of Greece’s quieter islands dotted with secluded beaches, has declared a state of emergency due to severe water shortages and high temperatures, which will last until July 25. According to a decree from Secretary-General Vassilis Papageorgiou, the state of emergency will allow “management of the possible consequences of the occurrence of a water shortage phenomenon in the abovementioned areas.”
Greece’s main tourist sites, including the Acropolis, which attracted more than three million visitors last year, have been forced to close during the hottest parts of the day as a precautionary measure.
Rising temperatures have also sparked wildfires, which led to several forced evacuations in June. Firefighters have been battling blazes near Athens in recent weeks, forcing dozens of people to flee their homes. The weather forecast put the greater Athens area on high wildfire alert, restricting access to forests and parks.
