Should you travel to wildfire-stricken regions?

We are, once again, seeing how the effects of the climate crisis are being felt across the world. Wildfires in Greece, Portugal, Turkey and Hawai'i have caused widespread destruction. Extreme weather patterns are no longer an anomaly, meaning travellers are left with the vital question – should we be travelling to wildfire-stricken regions?

In Greece, sweltering temperatures of over 45°C, drought and high winds have led to wildfires in southern regions and the Mediterranean islands. As holidaymakers scrambled onto flights safely returning to the UK, local people living on Rhodes and Corfu have had to deal with the devastating aftermath – the loss of homes, businesses and livelihoods. Thankfully, the situation eased with the country's 'high alert' status being lowered and raised as needed. Still, several parts of the country, including Alexandroupoli and Athens, remain vigilant as temperatures threaten to rise again. “The climate crisis is already here,” Greece’s prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, told the Greek parliament. “It will manifest itself everywhere in the Mediterranean with greater disasters.”

Alentejo and the Algarve in southwest Portugal have also suffered wildfires, with the summer heat hitting a staggering 46°C. Although the temperature has slightly lowered since then, the ​​National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) has kept in place an 'increased risk of rural fire' warning across the region.

On the Hawaiian island of Maui, at least 111 people have died in recent wildfires, with more than 1,000 people estimated still missing. While state and federal emergency management officials have begun the recovery process in Lahaina – the part of the island tragically left decimated – the Hawai’i Tourism Authority is working closely with the community to provide updates to local, national and international media. The message to travellers is that the majority of Hawai'i is open, with the exception of western Maui.

Is it safe to travel?

Although summer wildfires have long been classed as common in Greece, scientists have associated the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, including the latest heatwaves, to climate change. This has meant widespread coverage of the fires across international media. When a region goes through a natural disaster, such as an adverse weather event, there is always an inevitable – and understandable – drop in visitor numbers. For the places that are heavily reliant on tourism as a source of economic income, this can have a detrimental impact at a time when the area is fighting to rebuild.

For that reason, it's important to consult reliable sources when deciding whether or not to travel as planned. While social media is often filled with mixed guidance in times of disaster, it’s best to heed advice from the local tourism authority – a body best placed to know how to aid resilience and recovery.

“Like we saw in the pandemic, decisions we made can affect everyone across the islands,” briefed Hawai’i State Governor, Josh Green, when asked whether visitors should still travel to Maui. “So, what we’re saying now is travel should not be to West Maui. But the other parts of Maui are safe. And the rest of the state, of course, is also safe…

 “We want people to travel to the state to the extent that they're not impacting the hard work that these extraordinary people are doing [in supporting disaster recovery].”

Posts on social media have suggested travellers shouldn't be flying to Maui, allowing airlines to prioritise local people wishing to leave the island or those returning to search for loved ones. Others have pointed out that tourism facilities such as golf courses and all-inclusive resorts and spas draw too much natural resources, such as water, from the island – leaving locals with very little to prevent further fires. While Governor Green's message confirms visitors are welcome in the east of the island, a fair compromise might be to explore other parts of Hawai'i for now, unless a specific visit to Maui's east is required.

Similar advice was given by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection in Greece, which had to balance the holiday season across the country as forest fires erupted in Rhodes, Corfu and around the outskirts of Athens. While the fires rightly made international news, there were an estimated 200 Greek Islands that were not affected at all – such as the Saronic chain (including Aegina, Poros and Hydra), the Cyclades (including Ios, Mykonos, Santorini) and the Sporades (including Skiathos and Syros).

The most positive way to assist impacted regions – wherever they might be in the world – is to spend in local businesses and infrastructure, bringing income to the very people who will suffer as a result of the wildfires. This could be achieved by rebooking accommodation; swapping resorts and chain hotel for family-owned guesthouse or villa stays, eating out in locally-owned tavernas and shopping in resident-led stores. Being more aware of your footprint is also important. For example, pool facilities and spa experiences should be reconsidered in drought-affected areas.

What is the Foreign Office travel advice?

At the time of writing, the Foreign Office (FCDO) had updated its advice for Greece and Hawai'i, stating: “If you are due to travel to an area that might be affected by wildfires, contact your travel operator or accommodation provider before you travel to check that it is not currently impacted. Make sure you have appropriate insurance.”

For those travelling to affected areas in Greece, the FCDO recommends following 112 Greece on Twitter for official updates. While visitors to Maui are advised to visit the Maui County Alert Center website and Facebook page for up-to-date information from the local government. The ​​National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection continues to be the best source of recommendation in Portugal.

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