Interest among Swedish travelers in visiting Southern Europe appears resilient despite the significant wildfires currently burning in France and Spain. According to reports from airlines and travel agencies, there has been no notable decrease in bookings for these regions.
Catharina Solli, press manager at the airline Norwegian, confirmed that flight tickets to Bordeaux—the destination in their network closest to the fire-stricken areas—are still being booked for the coming days. The airline has not observed an increase in cancellations compared to previous years.
While their customer service department has received inquiries from travelers concerned about airport operations, the airports remain fully functional. Solli noted that the airline is monitoring the situation closely and following updates from relevant authorities.
Travel agencies have similarly reported that customers are not canceling their trips due to the fires. Louise Jellvi, a press communicator at the travel agency Ticket, stated that while some individuals are seeking advice to ensure their specific destinations are not in affected areas, the overall booking trend remains positive.
In fact, Ticket has recorded an increase in trips to France and Spain over the past week compared to the same period last year. Between July 21st and July 27th, bookings for Spain rose by 29 percent, while bookings for France increased by 22 percent.
Travel expert Lottie Knutson suggests that these habits may persist because most summer travel is booked well in advance, making cancellations logistically difficult. She noted that travel habits are often long-lasting, and while the current fires are unusually severe, they are a known factor for those traveling to the region.
Knutson compared the situation to other historical events, such as the war in the Middle East or shifts in travel to the US, which have previously influenced tourism.
However, she believes that if the fires continue at this rate, it will eventually impact travel, likely leading more people to avoid Southern Europe during the hottest months, book closer to departure, and prioritize refundable tickets.
French Trade and Tourism Minister Serge Papin urged tourists on the television channel TF1 not to automatically cancel their stays in fire-affected areas. He expressed optimism about opening evacuated zones that have not sustained damage by August.
Regarding consumer rights, the Swedish Consumer Agency, Konsumverket, notes that there is no statutory right of withdrawal for air travel, meaning airline terms apply.
However, the Package Travel Act provides protection for package trips, allowing for cancellation and full refunds without fees in the event of extraordinary circumstances, such as large-scale forest fires.
