What important vacation destinations for the Swiss are planning for climate protection
Published: Thursday, Jun 20th 2024, 10:50
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Traveling without a guilty conscience? Vacations usually mean a burden on the climate because of the journey to and from the destination. Vacation destinations in Europe are trying to remain attractive through climate awareness.
Summer, sun, beach - vacations can be so beautiful. But in times of mass tourism and the climate crisis, many people are starting to think. How can I manage to travel with the smallest possible ecological footprint? Important European vacation destinations for the Swiss are trying to soothe their conscience and remain attractive as a destination with targeted measures and offers. An overview:
ITALIAN:
The country of longing for many Swiss vacationers suffers particularly from overtourism. Almost half a billion overnight stays were recorded in 2023. In cities such as Rome or Florence, the flow of visitors is sometimes unbearable - but the crowds also push through smaller towns such as Bolzano, Capri or San Gimignano. In Venice, an entrance fee of five euros is now charged on certain dates to deter day visitors.
In the capital city of Rome, it is not uncommon for vacationers to keel over due to the heat. Although there have always been fountains with drinking water on street corners, it is clear to everyone that this is no longer enough in times of climate change. Attempts are now being made to green the city again. Currently, 100,000 trees are being planted to provide shade.
Many other municipalities are also taking the rising temperatures into account: with new architectural projects, strict no-go zones for cars and also with state subsidies for homeowners who retrofit for the sake of the environment.
SPANIEN:
Spain, Europe's most popular vacation destination, is heading for a new record in visitor numbers: 24 million tourists were counted in the first quarter alone, a double-digit increase on the same period last year. Mass tourism not only leads to social problems such as the displacement of locals in hotspots such as Barcelona, the Canary Islands and the Balearics in particular, but also to considerable environmental problems.
On Mallorca and the other Balearic Islands, the government is trying to take countermeasures. A law on sustainability and the circular economy in the tourism sector has been in force there since 2022. The aim is to force hotels, restaurants and other parts of the tourism industry to operate in a more environmentally friendly way. They have to declare how much energy and water they have consumed to date, what waste they produce and where they source their food from. Then they have to make savings: In terms of energy, water and waste. It is also about photovoltaic systems, insulating the houses and using exhaust air heat.
CROATIA:
The popular vacation destination on the Adriatic with its picturesque bays and islands is attracting more and more holidaymakers. In 2023, the Ministry of Tourism recorded 20.6 million travelers with 108 million overnight stays. The flow of tourists is concentrated in the summer months. The architectural jewel Dubrovnik with its picturesque sea fortress is struggling with overcrowding - the city on the southern Adriatic is now restricting access for cruise ships and buses carrying day trippers.
A strategy for the development of sustainable tourism by 2030 should help. One billion euros is to be made available for this. Tourist destinations away from the Adriatic coast are now to be developed. This includes the expansion of wellness and health tourism. Slightly dilapidated sanatoriums could be renovated to create a contemporary offering.
GREECE:
Tourism and climate change are a dilemma for the country: on the one hand, it has to focus on climate protection because it is increasingly plagued by drought, flooding and catastrophic forest fires. On the other hand, the Greeks are dependent on tourism, one of the most important factors in the Greek economy.
The government now wants to invest two billion euros in civil and climate protection. The aim is to become a pioneer for new solutions and sustainable tourism. This includes small local measures, such as on the island of Tilos, whose inhabitants now recycle 90 percent of their waste, or on the island of Astypalea, which is to be completely converted to e-mobility and green energy. The balance for green electricity is positive: Wind and solar power now account for a good half of Greece's energy.
AUSTRIA:
The state has been expanding its range of sustainable, climate-friendly tourism services for years. Buses and trains are to become more attractive. From July 2025, tourists staying overnight in the state of Salzburg will be able to travel on all public transport for a small fee. Other regions offer something similar. A lot has happened in winter tourism: lifts powered by solar energy, snow groomers that run on biofuels, snowmaking systems that run on 90 percent renewable energy. Overall, according to Österreich Werbung, energy consumption per overnight stay has fallen significantly in recent years.
In view of winters with less snow, alternatives to skiing are to be developed in the lower-lying areas. A national mountain bike strategy is the current project. The capital city of Vienna is focusing on greening streets and informing holidaymakers of hundreds of drinking fountains and more than 100 fog showers via an app.
GERMANY:
In Germany, the north-eastern region with its Baltic Sea beaches, lakes, the islands of Rügen and Usedom and 7.6 million guests with 32 million overnight stays (2023) is considered a top destination. There is a range of green hotels, organic hotels and hotels that offer climate-neutral overnight stays. Two shore power systems have been installed at the cruise port of Warnemünde, with which appropriately equipped ships can secure their power supply without running diesel engines and thus with low emissions during layovers. Some municipalities offer free bus services.
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