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Tourists flock to Mount Etna as eruption disrupts Sicily travel
Catania airport has been closed, while local guides say demand for evening lava-viewing tours has tripled to about 300 requests a day.
Mount Etna has drawn large crowds of visitors to Italy as the volcano continues to spew ash and lava, and local guides say the surge in demand is creating pressure for the tourism industry. The tallest active volcano in Europe is currently erupting for days, with lava flows visible from the slopes.
According to coverage by the SCMP Economy outlet, the eruption has also disrupted travel in Sicily, with the closure of nearby Catania airport, a key gateway for tourists visiting the island.
Local guides told Agence France-Presse they are being overwhelmed by calls for nighttime hikes that allow participants to watch the eruption. One guide said his company typically takes a few dozen visitors each evening, but is currently receiving about 300 requests a day, roughly three times an average summer day.
Another guide described the eruption as a “touristic eruption,” saying many people are drawn to the event because it can be observed in relative safety. SCMP Economy reported that tour operators are seeing demand even as the airport shutdown highlights the practical disruption for visitors.