A travel guide has highlighted destinations tourists should avoid in 2026
The Canary Islands have been placed on a ‘No List’ by Fodor’s Travel for 2026 (Image: Getty Images)
For decades the Canary Islands have been a firm favourite among British holidaymakers. These Spanish islands are beloved for their year-round sunny weather, bustling resorts and a comfortable four-hour flight time.
It’s been a symbiotic relationship: as demand for sunshine holidays soared during the second half of the 20th century, resorts sprung up across the archipelago and tourist money contributed significantly to the economy. Yet in 2024 there was a change in mood.
Residents launched protests against mass-tourism, citing its impact on the environment, local infrastructure and on housing prices. Similar protests took place at other holiday hotspots in Europe.
As a result the Canary Islands was included in a ‘No List’ by travel guide Fodor’s Travel for 2025 – and it’s on the list again for 2026. The publication clarified that the list is “not a call for boycott”, but the aim is “to highlight destinations where tourism is placing unsustainable pressures on the land and local communities. “
People march past a beach during a demonstration against over tourism which affects the local population with inaccessible housing, among other things, in Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, Spain, Saturday April 20, 2024.(Image: AP)
It said the key issues highlighted by the list are “overtouristed sites, fragile ecosystems and communities struggling to stay afloat”. Fodor’s said: “The No List serves a gentle but pointed nudge to ease up on a spot for now–not forever–and give a rest to any location that clearly needs a breather.”
Regarding the Canary Islands, it cited that tourism has soared in 2025, with 7.8million visitors arriving in the islands and more than 27million airport passengers processed in the first half of the year, a five per cent increase on the previous years. Fodor’s points out that tourism contributes to more than a third of the Canary Islands’ GDP and employs roughly 40per cent of its population, “yet success comes at a price”.
The impact of visitors on traffic, housing (such as driving up rental prices), damage to the natural environment and water scarcity is felt by the local population. The guide said: “Academics and experts warn that the combination of rising visitor numbers and a warming climate is unsustainable.”
The Canary Islands have long been a popular holiday destination among Brits (Image: Getty Images)
It added: “For many Canarians, tourism is both a lifeline and a burden. The islands rely heavily on visitor spending, yet locals often see little of it. “
Last year other Spanish destinations Barcelona and Majorca, however, they have not been featured this year. But Fodor’s adds this doesn’t mean that tourists should descend upon them in their thousands. The publication said: “These destinations haven’t been magically cured–they’re still mired in challenges–but the usual suspects too often pull focus from other hotspots in need of a break.”
Alongside the Canary Islands, Antarctica, Glacier National Park (USA), Isola Sacra (Italy), The Jungfrau Region (Switzerland), Mexico City (Mexico), Mombasa (Kenya), Montmartre (Paris, France) also feature in this year’s ‘No List’.
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