Tourism on Réunion Island, France

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, acquired on 19 July 2024, shows Réunion Island, a French department located between Madagascar and Mauritius in the southwest Indian Ocean. Known for its lush rainforests, volcanic mountains, and beautiful beaches, not only the island’s stunning landscapes but also its weather makes it popular with international tourists: with largely favourable conditions year-round, the island is an attractive destination for those seeking to escape the European winter.

As interest in Réunion grows, researchers have developed tourism climate indices to promote sustainable travel and better inform potential visitors. Analysing meteorological data, they found that the island is most enjoyable during its winter months. This insight suggests that tourism authorities should target this peak season while implementing strategies to mitigate the effects of Réunion’s hot summers.

Copernicus supports sustainable tourism around the world thanks to its ability to help monitor jellyfish populations, and coastal water quality monitoring. Furthermore, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) provides value-added information for decisionmakers and researchers to better understand climate trends and their impacts on local communities.