Germany, Italy and France top the list of pollen prone holiday destinations outside the UK. And with peak holiday booking season in full swing, Brits are now being helped to plan where they go this year without the worry of unexpected allergy attacks.
Belgium, Spain and Netherlands are also some of the countries where holidays may be threatened for people with pollen allergies, with Luxembourg, Japan, Estonia Country and USA making up the top 10.
And now, one of the UK’s leading allergy relief brands has partnered with a global air quality and pollen data company to launch the innovative Pollen Passport, a world-first tool offering unique insights into pollen and pollution allergen risks.
Allevia and Ambee have joined forces to help visualise and interpret allergy risks in countries across the globe through the compilation of data.
With global pollen levels surging significantly, increasing by 13% annually since 2020, and air pollution triggering allergy flare-ups, this tool enables holidaymakers to access information on pollen levels, air quality and plant species, forecasting allergen levels using data from the previous year – which could help as they make their destination choices.
Five days before setting off, the Pollen Passport user will receive a live update of the allergens at their holiday destination, alongside a discount for the antihistamine brand, so they can be fully prepared before they leave the UK.
In addition, the Pollen Passport also provides outdoor activity recommendations from Tripadvisor, inspiring holidaymakers to make the most of their time away.
Dr Helen Evans-Howells, an independent allergy expert, said: “When preparing for holidays, people tend to forget about environmental allergies or are unaware that pollen and pollution counts may differ with their location and trigger symptoms.
“Others feel highly anxious about the change in environment and avoid the trip all together.
“With pollen seasons prolonging and the number of adults being affected for the first time by environmental allergies increasing, all travellers should look to minimise allergies when abroad to avoid ruining their trip. It is hard to relax and enjoy your time away if you are sneezing, have congestion, fatigue or, perhaps worse, an asthma attack triggered by the pollen.”
For those planning a last-minute winter sun break, the Pollen Passport is currently flagging poor air quality in popular destinations including Dubai, Mumbai and Bangkok, with Dubai also flagging high tree pollen alongside Morocco. Meanwhile, Australia is the worse destination currently for grass pollen.
For spring and summer holiday planning, the data shows most regions of the world have been impacted by above-average pollen levels in recent years, with the worst-hit including some of UK holidaymakers’ favourite destinations Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Netherlands and Japan.
Opella’s Nick Linton added: “We know how important holidays are and nobody wants a highly anticipated trip ruined by an allergy flare up.
“We want to help people take control of their health by making it as simple as possible, this tool will really be a great aid to help travellers by giving them information and advice to prepare for their holiday and take control of their allergies before they’ve even left the UK.”
Antihistamines like Allevia 120mg tablets can help relieve symptoms of airborne allergies like sneezing, itchy nose/ eyes, and nasal congestion but for more severe cases a GP or pharmacist should be consulted.
To find out more about the Allevia Passport and check your holiday destination anywhere in the world, visit pollenpassport.com