Extreme heat is altering when, where and how we travel: new research
Australians love a holiday, but are increasingly making travel plans around unpredictable weather.
New research reveals that extreme heat is significantly impacting the travel habits of Australians. In a national online survey, it was found that one in five respondents had altered their most recent holiday due to weather conditions. This included 8% who changed their plans because of fires, floods, or storms, and 6% who adjusted their travel due to extreme heat. More surprisingly, a third of respondents decided against visiting destinations they deemed too hot, such as Dubai or northern Australia.
The study suggests that weather plays a crucial role in shaping Australian tourists' travel choices. Extreme heat poses a significant threat to human health, with the number of heatwave-related deaths expected to double in the next 40 years in Australia. Surprisingly, 80% of people stuck to their original holiday plans, regardless of the weather, highlighting the importance of heat safety measures for outdoor tourists.
The findings also indicate that weather influences various aspects of holidaying, such as the timing of trips, planned activities, and even destination choices. A quarter of weather-sensitive survey participants shortened, extended, or changed the dates of their holidays due to unexpected weather. About 31% adjusted their planned activities, like shopping indoors on humid days, based on weather forecasts.
A fifth of those who altered their plans abandoned their original destination, with nature-based activities being the least likely to change travel plans.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
