(Yicai) July 1 -- Amid the record-breaking heatwave in Europe, France has seen a significant drop in tourist numbers due to a lack of air conditioning at many attractions and public places such as museums, some of which have temporarily shut, with the sector swiftly adding "air-conditioned vehicle tours" to travel itineraries to try and cope with the heat.

A Chinese national known as Arthur, who has been living in Europe for 18 years and runs his own tourism business in Paris, told Yicai that air-cons have become a hot commodity at supermarkets and shopping malls in the city, with many of them sold out and only a few priced at several hundred euros remaining. Local office buildings and malls do have air-cons and so have become popular spots for escaping the heat, he pointed out.

The majority of attractions in Europe are historical buildings, museums, and galleries, with a significant number of these places not having air-cons and at most providing only fans, Arthur noted. Because of that, some museums have opted to close early recently to avoid issues caused by excessive heat and overcrowding among visitors, he said.

Chinese tourists typically visit France in significant numbers during the summer, noted a Chinese person who works as a driver and tour guide in the country. However, due to the heatwave and the FIFA World Cup drawing some visitors to Mexico, the United States, and Canada, their number has about halved, he told Yicai.

"It's also quite hot in the UK, but perhaps a bit better than in France," noted a Chinese tour guide living in Germany for many years who leads groups traveling between China and Europe. "As tour guides, we timely adjust our itineraries.

"For example, we either cancel or schedule outdoor city tours for the early morning or evening when the temperatures are cooler," the person said. "During midday, we arrange indoor activities to avoid the heat."

"Most vehicles are equipped with air-cons, allowing tourists to form small groups and rent a van," Arthur said regarding his company's offerings. "They spend the majority of their time inside the vehicle, making quick stops at iconic landmarks for photos.

"During the hotter afternoon hours, we can schedule visits to indoor locations with air conditioning, while city tours can be arranged during the cooler early morning and evening hours," he added. "Plus, since it's currently the World Cup, we can find venues with air-cons to watch the matches."

Short-haul destinations from China, including Thailand, Malaysia, and South Korea, are leading this summer's outbound travel market due to convenient travel options, favorable visa policies, and popular experiences, according to Shanghai Spring Tour. Medium to long-haul spots are focusing on high-end cultural and in-depth travel, with cross-border study tours for teenagers emerging as a new growth point.

Long-haul European destinations, including the UK, France, Switzerland, and Italy, continue to gain popularity.

"The travel itineraries for Europe were booked several months in advance, at a time when the heatwave had not yet emerged," said Wei Changren, founder of travel industry analysis company Ctcnn.Com. "It appears that there will still be a peak in travel during the summer, but whether these recent high temperatures will lead to cancellations and changes is still uncertain. It will depend on the duration of the heatwave and the adjustments made by travel companies.

"In addition, the overall cost of traveling in Europe will also be higher during the peak summer season," Wei noted. "Regardless, the travel routes and methods for visiting Europe have already changed this summer due to the high temperatures."

"We are closely monitoring the situation of tour groups in Europe and are making timely adjustments to certain itineraries," Zhou Weihong, deputy general manager of Spring Tour, told Yicai. "For the hottest periods, we reduce outdoor activities and replace them with indoor programs and have a medical and emergency response mechanism in place."

Editor: Martin Kadiev