Due to the harsh weather, wildfires and fatalities are increasing significantly in Southern Europe, with Italy being particularly hard hit. Strong winds are causing wildfires to spread quickly on Sicily, an island known for its tourist attractions, endangering both locals and visitors. Several airports in the area have been forced to close as a result, disrupting travel plans and causing worries about financial losses in the tourism industry.

With Catania recording a searing 47.6 degrees Celsius, the island’s sweltering temperatures smashed previous records. Even while firemen have been working to put out the fires, some neighborhoods, particularly those near Palermo, Messina, and Catania, are still in danger.

Tragically, three people have perished in the wildfires, and enormous damage has been done, including the complete loss of Palermo’s Santa Maria di Gersu Church, which cost an estimated €260 million in damages.

People have been forced to leave their houses because of the distressing scenario, which has left them with difficult living conditions brought on by the dirty and heated air. Italy is in a perilous situation as it works to recover economically from the epidemic, with the tourism industry being essential to the revival of the economy.

The Economic Impact Research (EIR) report from the World Travel and Tourism Council emphasizes the significant €194 billion impact the tourism industry will make to Italy’s economy by the end of the year. The sector is anticipated to maintain its upward trend, accounting for 12% of Italy’s GDP in the coming ten years and adding €237 billion to the country’s GDP.

Authorities are clearly working hard to put out the fires, preserve lives, and maintain the area’s travel and tourism business given the severity of the wildfires’ impact on tourism and the nation’s economy.