Natural disasters that shook the tourism industry to its core, from 2023 Rhodes wildfires to 2019 Venice floods to 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
- Natural disasters can deter holidaymakers from visiting the affected area in the aftermath, which can trigger chain reactions throughout the tourism industry
- From July’s Greek wildfires to the 2010 Icelandic volcano eruption and 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, these eight natural disasters left their mark on tourists
While the long-term impact may be minimal, natural disasters usually deter holidaymakers from visiting the affected area in the immediate aftermath. This can trigger a chain reaction, leading to the closure of tourism-related businesses and lay-offs, which in turn reverberates throughout the local community.
Here are eight natural disasters – and disasters exacerbated by human-influenced climate breakdown – that left their mark on tourists and their hosts.
1. Venice – 2019 floods
And the city is not alone; mainland China, Libya, Greece, Turkey, Japan, Brazil, the United States and India have all seen extreme downpours in the past few weeks.
The phenomenon is a regular occurrence in the winter months, though, and doesn’t bother Venetians too much. What does concern them is the depth of the water and the increasing frequency of the flooding.