The Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) has issued an urgent advisory to anyone travelling from Ireland to continental Europe this week after temperatures in parts of Spain, France, Italy and Portugal soared past 40 °C. Speaking to Midwest Radio on the morning of 25 June 2026, ITAA chief executive Clare Dunne said that cases of dehydration, heat exhaustion and sunstroke were already being reported among Irish holiday-makers and short-stay business travellers. The warning comes at the height of Ireland’s outbound summer season—Dublin Airport alone is handling close to 390 departures today—and many corporate itineraries include back-to-back city visits with limited downtime.
![Irish Travel Agents Association warns business and leisure travellers as European heatwave tops 40 °C]()
For those double-checking entry requirements or arranging last-minute travel documents, VisaHQ’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers quick online visa processing, real-time country advisories and 24/7 customer support, making it easier to adjust plans swiftly when heat-related alerts disrupt schedules.
Dunne urged companies to allow more flexible schedules, build extra rest periods into meetings, and remind employees to carry electrolyte tablets and bottled water. She also recommended booking hotels with reliable air-conditioning, something not guaranteed in older European properties. European authorities have activated “red” civil-protection alerts in Andalusia, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Lazio and the Alentejo, which allows local governments to restrict outdoor work and close unshaded construction sites. Travellers could therefore see last-minute cancellations of site visits or transport disruptions as rail operators slow services to protect track infrastructure. From a duty-of-care perspective, Irish employers should update travel-risk assessments and ensure 24-hour medical assistance is available through international SOS providers. Where employees are on assignment with accompanying family members, mobility managers are advised to review local schooling and childcare arrangements, as many summer camps have suspended outdoor activities. Insurers, meanwhile, have reminded policy-holders that claims linked to “extreme climatic conditions” are usually covered, but only if travellers followed official guidance. ITAA said it will continue to monitor the situation and issue further updates through member bulletins and social media.
For those double-checking entry requirements or arranging last-minute travel documents, VisaHQ’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers quick online visa processing, real-time country advisories and 24/7 customer support, making it easier to adjust plans swiftly when heat-related alerts disrupt schedules.
Dunne urged companies to allow more flexible schedules, build extra rest periods into meetings, and remind employees to carry electrolyte tablets and bottled water. She also recommended booking hotels with reliable air-conditioning, something not guaranteed in older European properties. European authorities have activated “red” civil-protection alerts in Andalusia, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Lazio and the Alentejo, which allows local governments to restrict outdoor work and close unshaded construction sites. Travellers could therefore see last-minute cancellations of site visits or transport disruptions as rail operators slow services to protect track infrastructure. From a duty-of-care perspective, Irish employers should update travel-risk assessments and ensure 24-hour medical assistance is available through international SOS providers. Where employees are on assignment with accompanying family members, mobility managers are advised to review local schooling and childcare arrangements, as many summer camps have suspended outdoor activities. Insurers, meanwhile, have reminded policy-holders that claims linked to “extreme climatic conditions” are usually covered, but only if travellers followed official guidance. ITAA said it will continue to monitor the situation and issue further updates through member bulletins and social media.
