Campsites brace for intense warmth
France Adapts to Heatwave as Tourists and Camping Sites Cope with Soaring Temperatures
A heatwave is sweeping across France, affecting tourists and camping sites, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 39 degrees on Sunday, August 10th, in the afternoon, particularly at a camping in Lacanau, Gironde. Two friends, Fanny Toppeta and Caroline Thiex, are vacationing at a camping near Montpellier (Hérault), while Joséphine Van Respaille, assistant director of the camping in Lacanau, is taking measures to ensure the safety and comfort of her customers.
To combat the extreme heat, the camping in Lacanau is implementing several adaptations. Misting fans are being used to provide relief from the heat, and some vacationers can be seen seeking refuge in the shade. In addition, the felt temperature at 11 am is 37 degrees.
The friends are facing the high temperatures but finding ways to cope. Fanny Toppeta plans to go to the beach to cool off, while Caroline Thiex finds the portable fan quite handy. A mother with an 11-month-old child is changing her plans due to the heat wave, stating she will keep the child in the shade.
The heat wave is causing a change in plans, especially for families with young children. Some vacationers at the camping in Lacanau are rushing to the pool as it opens, while others are rescheduling their outdoor activities to cooler parts of the day.
In response to the heatwave, France is adapting in various ways. Tourists and camping sites are adjusting their activities and infrastructure to reduce heat exposure and ensure safety. This includes rescheduling outdoor activities to early morning or evening, providing access to cooling facilities and hydration, implementing health and safety measures, enhancing camping site infrastructure, and increasing awareness and guidance for tourists on heat risks and protective behaviors.
These adaptations occur alongside broader urban and rural efforts to mitigate heat impact, such as insulation and ventilation improvements at homes and buildings. Additionally, tourism in France remains resilient despite heatwaves, with ongoing strategies to position itself as a leader in climate-adapted tourism.
Overall, the approach combines operational changes, infrastructural adjustments, and public health measures to help tourists and camping sites cope with increasingly intense heatwaves in France.
Fanny Toppeta, vacationing in Montpellier, France, intends to visit the beach to escape the soaring temperatures, demonstrating that tourists are adapting to the French heatwave. Meanwhile, the camping at Lacanau employs misting fans in an attempt to combat the extreme heat, indicating that adaptations to the weather are being made at multiple camping sites across France.
