Beach vacations are out and “coolcations” are in: As the mercury continues to rise during the warmer months, the traditional allure of beach vacations is waning, making way for a new travel trend: Coolcations. This shift in preference towards vacationing in colder climates is reshaping the travel industry, steering real estate investments towards different destinations and necessitating an industry-wide adaptation to meet the evolving tastes of travelers, according to Axios.

Finland, Scotland, Norway, and the Baltic countries — even the Arctic — are getting popular. Climate change-driven popularity is leading this change as people are less concerned with whether it’s going to rain as opposed to suffering on the beach from record-breaking temperatures or escaping wildfires, reports Condé Nast Traveler. British travel company Iglu Cruise reports a staggering 235% y-o-y increase in demand for Arctic destinations in 2023.

There’s downside risk to ecosystems: The delicate ecosystems of these areas are at risk asthey grapple with the unintended consequences of becoming sought-after travel destinations — think of the increased volume of traffic from cruises, ships, and other activities that areas previously considered to be remote — like the Arctic — have not experienced, explains Arctic Today.

Don’t change your ticket to that beachside resort just yet: Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, Dubai, and Tokyo were still top travel destinations in 2023 despite the “Frozen Effect” pushing people to colder destinations, Euromonitor International said in a recent report.

Tags: