Why your dream Europe trip in Summer 2023 is quickly turning into a nightmare

Be it France or Italy or the UK, Europe serves as the home of many leading countries that never fail at impressing tourists from all over. But this summer, the tourism potential seems to be on the low due to occurrences like the political chaos in Paris, Roman sites being ticketed despite being free earlier, and obviously, the fear of climate change leading to hotter summers.

Of course, all of this comes into discussion after you have got the coveted Schengen visa, paid many thousands in airfares, and found yourself a place to stay.

Riots and strikes in Paris

2023 has become a particularly tumultuous year for tourists to arrive in Paris or any other touristy town in France, given the many protests and strikes the European nation harbured this year.

In March 2023, most of the cityfolk were protesting against the Macron-led government in France as the President was unwilling to waver off an unpopular pension policy. 

This policy raised the pension age from 62 to 64 and drew the ire of garbage union workers in particular who protested by leaving trash in the so-called aesthetic lanes of Paris.

Soon, tourists began complaining about the stench of the garbage while Paris only prepared its ground for an even more intense political backlash. 

Influencers and models might complain about their Paris fashion shows getting cancelled or postponed as the city is currently in the midst of an anti-police brutality wave. 

On June 27, 17-year-old Parisian Nahel M was shot by the police at point blank range for driving past a police traffic check. When the video of his death began circulating, chaos multiplied on the streets of Paris with hordes of civilians either protesting peacefully or resorting to activities like burning vehicles and looting shops.

Given that Nahel was of Algerian descent, his death has become a rallying cry for anti-minority hate crimes in Paris. 

So, while an influencer like Masoom Minawala Mehta might lament missing out on a fashion couture week due to these riots, the on-ground situation proves that Paris is reaching its political boiling point this year with the hatred against Macron at an all-time high. 

Rising temperatures, wildfires and fears of flooding 

For many tourists from India and other tropical countries, a European vacation in the June-July window can be a much-needed respite from the sweltering heat or humidity in their home countries. But with global warming breaking heat records in Europe, even the continent in the northern hemisphere is getting hotter by the day. 

As per the 2022 weather data, the European Environment Agency warns that the post-June period might witness hazardous heatwaves. Their report that was published on June 14 stated that unless adaptation measures are implemented, there may be more than 60 summer days this year, in which conditions are hazardous to human health. And Europeans are very susceptible to heatwaves as the hospital admissions and heatstroke deaths suggest. 

Heavy precipitation events are also expected to increase across most of Europe, increasing the likelihood of floods, particularly in northern and central Europe. Adaptation measures are required to safeguard society from the greatest impacts, such as those caused by flooding in Germany and Belgium in July 2021.

In Italy, Rome itself is gearing up to take on climate crisis-induced flooding to avoid the disastrous floods that struck the neighboring region of Emilia-Romagna earlier in May. 17 died and nearly 50,000 people were displaced over here. 

ALSO READ: Rome, fearing a fall to floods, is gearing up for a fight against climate change

July and August can also bear witness to some wildfires. The wildfire season of 2022 was the second worst since 2000, with nearly 5,000 sqkm (twice the size of Luxembourg) burnt during the summer months (June, July, and August), and a record number of 2,000 nature protection sites impacted.

Limiting tourist headcount with fines, anti-selfie fences and ticketing previously-free attractions

Some European settlements themselves aren’t very keen on meeting tourists this time (or any time) of the year. This is evident from how local decision-making bodies are resorting to anti-tourist measures.

For instance, the picturesque Austrian town of Hallstatt temporarily set up a fence to prevent tourists from clicking photos of the view as the locals were getting irritated by the camera flashes every day. 

ALSO READ: Hallstatt in Austria sets up fence to keep selfies out, and it is not the only place fighting too many tourists

Then came the equally picturesque Amalfi Coast in Italy, the site where numerous movies like The Talented Mr Ripley were shot. While the coast might truly offer sights to stop and stare at, the Mayor of the coastal town of Positano wants you to hurry up if you’re a tourist. 

Positano’s Mayor Matteo Viacava announced new laws and red zones to reduce human traffic congestion during peak season, which are largely caused by tourists lingering too long to take a million photos. 

ALSO READ: This famed Amalfi Coast town in Italy will fine you Rs 25k for taking too long to click photos!

The two most frequented spots that are affected include Portofino's centre, overlooking the sea - the region between Piazza Martiri dell'Olivetta and the Calata Marconi quay to the north, and between the square and the Umberto I pier's public toilets to the south.

Violations of the law can result in fines ranging from 85 to 275 euros (Rs 7,700 to Rs 24,778). The ban is in effect until October 2023.  

Not only is Italy’s Amalfi being affected, even the capital city Rome’s signature monument Pantheon has now finally become a ticketed site. The ancient Roman temple dates all the way back to 2,000 years ago has allowed visitors without any tickets so far. The move was introduced in March this year, with the 5 euro tickets being used for the culture ministry’s cleaning and maintenance work. 

Reactions have been mixed among both locals and tourists but it just proves how countries like Italy are willing to control its tourist inflow more carefully this year. 

So, even if the Schengen visa going digital this year can ease the burden of Europe travel on your Indian passport (well, provided you get a Schengen appointment slot in the first place), the general atmosphere and conditions in the continent aren’t the most friendly to tourists this year.