British tourists said holidays in Spain are ‘at risk’ as health warning issued over heatwave

British tourists are a popular tourist destination and are being warned of a heatwave that is expected to top 40C. The Balearic Health Ministry has issued a warning for people to “take extreme precautions” ahead of what will be a second heatwave in the area this month.

The main Balearic islands are Mallorca, Menorca/Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. People are being warned that this heatwave will last longer than the first, which saw temperatures of 44C expected in mid-July.

The General Directorate of Public Health urged people to avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol, eat light meals, reserve physical activity for the first or last hours of the day, drink plenty of water and wear light and cool clothing made from natural fabrics.

People should also never leave people or animals inside a parked and closed vehicle, but should pay special attention to babies, the elderly, and workers working outdoors.

According to the territorial delegation of the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) in the Balearic Islands, temperatures can exceed 40C. Minimum temperatures will also be high, between 22C and 28C.

Public health advisors have gone so far as to warn Britons that their holidays are “at risk” due to the extreme heat. Héctor Tejero, head of health and climate change at Spain’s Ministry of Health, said “vulnerable” tourists may not be able to cope with the heat. Mr Tejero said: “It is a real risk because the great Spanish tourist areas of Sol y Playa – the areas that are most dependent on tourism – are places where the impact of climate change will be greatest in Spain.”

More than 3.7 million Britons arrived in the larger Balearic islands in 2023, although there have been recent protests against the impact of tourism on the island chain.