Travellers Feel the Heat Over Summer Holidays

Many holidaymakers eschew mid-year hot spots for cooler climes - but Singapore tourists, used to year-round warmth, are undeterred

- Sarah Stanley

Summer has scorched the mid-year travel season in June and July, continuing the trend of record-breaking heat that has swept continents in recent years.

In southern Spain and Portugal, the mercury is expected to hit a blistering 43 deg C, while 21 Italian cities, including Milan, Venice and Rome, have been placed on red alert for extreme heat - the highest warning level in the country.

Wildfires have ravaged parts of Greece and Spain, prompting mass evacuations and deaths. Heat-related deaths have also been recorded in France and Italy.

Closer to home, Japan recorded its hottest June since 1898, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. In the second half of the month, many parts of the country experienced temperatures exceeding 35 deg C for days at a stretch.

In eastern China, cities such as Shanghai and Hangzhou have hit highs of 35 to 39 deg C, while parts of the western Xinjiang region have experienced brutal heatwave conditions, with temperatures spiking above 45 deg C.

Despite the searing heat, travel agencies in Singapore say bookings to popular regional and long-haul destinations remain robust during the peak summer months of June, July and August.

"This period consistently sees demand, particularly for family-friendly destinations and experiences that cater to multi-generational travel. June is also a favourite as there are longer daylight hours across Europe and the Americas," says Mr Nick Lim, Asia chief executive of travel company The Travel Corporation (TTC).