Climate Changing Overseas Property Locations

As much as we hate to admit the truth, it seems that the change in the earth’s climate is well under way and there is little that we can do in the short term to stop it. While we have all seen the doomsday predictions of rising sea levels, extreme heat and lack of rain fall, is it really that bad?

A report by Germany’s Deutsche Bank research has made some rather startling claims with regards to climate change and where we will spend our holiday time in the future. However, unlike other reports which were fairly vague, this one actually names the countries which they believe will be hardest hit as well as those who will benefit. So what exactly is happening?

The report suggests that a whole host of countries will see changes in their tourist numbers by 2030, with the likes of southern Spain, North Africa, Greece, India, Australasia and the Caribbean in the firing line, but Turkey, Morocco and Australia are forecast to be hit the hardest. Rising sea levels and searing heat are expected to hit visitor numbers in these areas. This has already been in evidence with record breaking heat waves last summer across much of Eastern Europe and conversely large scale flooding in the UK.

On a positive note the report claims that areas such as northern Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, Canada and New Zealand will be the main beneficiaries of changes expected in the future with increased temperatures fostering a market for both increased domestic and international tourism opportunities.

While the report is very well structured, offers a clear insight into how the results were produced and details why and when changes may occur, it is the latest in a long list of conflicting reports. We know that the climate has changed and continues to change, but history has also shown major temperature shifts in the past, so while we need to be appreciative of such reports they are still only forecasts based on what may or may not happen in the future. The impact on overseas property markets in the short term should remain unaffected however with elderly people and children affected worst by extreme heat waves, the masses planning to retire overseas or buy a family holiday home may just need to reconsider their final destination in the longer term.