Rising mercury shifts seasons

The year 2023 was recorded as the hottest in history, and 2024 is on track to surpass it.

- Sarah Stanley

Global warming—largely attributed to carbon emissions from burning coal, oil, and gas—is the main culprit, causing the mercury to rise at an alarming rate.

In July, southern Europe endured a relentless heatwave, with Greece's iconic cultural attraction, the Acropolis—a hilltop Unesco World Heritage site that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists annually—shut down for hours as temperatures soared to 38 deg C.

In 2023, the mercury hit 45 deg C in Syntagma Square—a historically significant central square in Athens—as the country suffered its longest heatwave on record.

In South-east Asia, April brought an unprecedented heatwave, pushing temperatures in countries such as Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia above 40 deg C in some regions.

The effects of extreme heat are already reshaping tourism. Thailand's Tourism Authority announced a shift towards promoting early morning and night-time activities to help visitors avoid the punishing midday sun.

Meanwhile, Singapore experienced its warmest decade on record from 2014 to 2023, with persistent humidity amplifying the perception of heat for both locals and tourists.

Travellers have certainly felt the heat, with many seeking out countries with cooler climates for their vacations.