Why Vacations in the Winter Sun Could Be a Trend of the Past by 2050

With our festive winter break upon us, the trend has previously been for vacationers to find a good deal, jump on a plane, and flock to get some winter sun. However, a recent report by The Future Laboratory reveals an expected shift in the travel landscape by 2050. This is due to climate change, overtourism, and the potential disappearance of popular destinations, reports The Telegraph.

Some of the popular spots vacationers have been traveling to include Venice in Italy, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and Bali in Indonesia amongst others. However, the report by The Future Laboratory, “A Sustainable Future for Travel: From Crisis to Transformation,” states, “Low-lying islands, including the Maldives, could become uninhabitable by 2050… a lot of destinations that we love because of their connections to the sea are at great risk, including Venice and Amsterdam.”

The report dives into issues that will affect travel in the coming years, highlighting climate data from NASA and the World Meteorological Organisation, which have revealed examples of destinations with overtourism, such as Venice, Barcelona, Bali, and so on.

As an example, the report revealed that overtourism in Barcelona is causing a cost-of-living crisis for locals, with the large number of tourists yearly (over 32 million) having caused rental prices to spike by 36% between 2018 and 2022.

Bali is also feeling the heat with the rising tourist numbers. Amongst the issues they’re dealing with are traffic congestion, antisocial behavior, and waste management.

Venice, another hot spot with a rising rate of tourism, is experiencing negative outcomes like noise, pollution, and pressure on infrastructure.

The report says that by 2050, low-lying islands such as the Bahamas and Maldives may become uninhabitable while the Dead Sea, which is famous for its spa resorts, is forecasted to become a dried-up crater. This is all while other parts of the world, such as Miami, New Orleans, and Bangkok, are already at risk due to rising oceans which, according to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, are predicted to enlarge “by a further 20-30cm” by 2050.

In the report, Dr. Susanne Etti, global environmental impact manager at Intrepid Travel, said, “We must align, collaborate and accelerate collective action and innovation to decarbonize travel, as only then can our industry truly achieve its huge potential for sustainable development.”

The report also stated that there will be a shift to virtual travel if there is a lack of action to tackle the climate crisis by 2040. Holiday spots will become less tourist-friendly, and virtual activities will become the norm. Tuvalu, a small Pacific nation in Oceania, has become the first country to implement a digital version of itself, as a result of rising sea levels, the report revealed.