With temperatures peaking in many parts of Europe, an increasing number of tourists are looking for alternative summer destinations to help them beat the heat. 

Scandinavia has successfully positioned itself as a 'coolcation' (cool vacation) spot - a trend that countries like Austria are now hopping on to.

Tourists David and Lara have swapped a vacation in the Mediterranean for a coolcation at the Traunfall waterfall in Upper Austria. Water temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius are just fine, according to David.

"It's pretty cold but it's a cool feeling to get the kick and the adrenaline," David told CGTN after getting out of the green-turquoise water.

"It's not that hot here like in places like Spain where you have 45 degrees," Lara added.

Historically, coolcations are nothing new in Austria. The German word 'Sommerfrische' is similar and was used back in the 18th century by Habsburg emperors and even the brothers Grimm. It means getting away from the hot bustling city to cool off in comfortable temperatures.

From the Pasterze glacier to the Salzkammergut lakes, Austria is already seeing an increase in summer tourists, a much needed boost given the ever shorter skiing seasons.

"Cooler temperatures in Austria during summer and refreshing lakes and cool mountains is a part of our communications campaign," said Tanja Gruber from the Austrian national tourist office. "Climate change throughout the next years will indeed have a huge impact on tourism."

According to projections by the European Union, an average temperature rise of 4 degrees Celsius will reduce the number of summer tourists in the Mediterranean by up to 10 percent. The tourist industries of Scandinavia and British Isles, by contrast, are predicted to profit massively.

But if climate change continues at this pace, perhaps adrenaline junkies will one day deem it too warm to enjoy extreme holiday activities like jumping off Austria's waterfalls.

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