Coolcation
Coolcation (blend of words cool and vacation) is an English-language term referring to a holiday spent in a more northerly and cooler location due to global warming. In the 2020s, the term has been used in marketing, particularly by Nordic tourism operators and tourism promotion agencies.[1][2]
The "coolcation" trend is driven by a growing number of travelers seeking cooler, quieter destinations to escape the extreme heat, heatwaves, and wildfires that have become increasingly frequent in the 2020s—particularly in Southern European countries such as Spain, Italy, Greece, and Portugal.[3] According to a report by the European Commission, climate change is likely to significantly shift tourism patterns within Europe over the course of this century; as southern regions become increasingly hot and uncomfortable, tourism will increasingly migrate northward, particularly to the Nordic countries, the British Isles, or Canada.[4][5][6][7]
The trend has also raised ethical questions. Although Finland, among other places, could be considered a "coolcation" destination due to its relatively cool summer climate, only Levi has notably marketed itself using this concept;[8] conversely, Helsinki has not used the term in its marketing, as it does not consider the trend to align with its values regarding sustainable development.[9]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Coolcation". Nationalencyklopedin (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 July 2026.
- ↑ "Keski-Euroopassa sää ei ole enää pukeutumiskysymys". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 20 June 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
- ↑ "'Coolcation': Is climate change transforming travel?". Deutsche Welle. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
- ↑ ""Coolcation" får turister att blicka mot Sverige". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 28 June 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
- ↑ "Trenden coolcation lockar turister till Finland som aldrig förr: "Det här är vårt trumfkort"" (in Swedish). Svenska Yle. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
- ↑ "Climate change will shape the future of European tourism". European Commission. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
- ↑ Nikel, David (17 June 2025). "The Coolcation Trend Is Heating Up, And The Numbers Prove It". Forbes. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
- ↑ "Tuleeko Suomeen pian turistiryntäys? Euroopassa kohistaan uudesta ilmiöstä". Iltalehti (in Finnish). 23 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
- ↑ Toivio, Tuuli (9 July 2026). "Viileä ilmasto tuo Suomeen yhä enemmän turisteja – moni pitää sen markkinointia epäeettisenä". Suomenmaa (in Finnish). Retrieved 28 July 2026.
External links
[edit]
The dictionary definition of coolcation at Wiktionary
- Bhar, Swarnesh: New Travel Trend: Why Coolcations Are the New Summer Vacation Choice for Tourists – Travel And Tour World, 19 August 2025.
