The Canary Islands have long been a favourite getaway for British tourists, celebrated for their year-round sunshine, vibrant resorts, and convenient four-hour flight from the UK. This partnership between visitors and locals fueled rapid tourism growth through the late 20th century, boosting the region’s economy and expanding resort infrastructure across the archipelago.
However, by 2024, concerns over the consequences of mass tourism came to the forefront. Local residents staged protests citing environmental damage, stressed infrastructure, and soaring housing costs. Similar movements echoed in other major European tourist hotspots.
In response, the Canary Islands were named on Fodor’s Travel ‘No List’ for 2025 and retained their spot for 2026. Importantly, Fodor’s clarified that this list is not a travel ban nor a call for boycotts. Instead, it raises awareness about destinations facing unsustainable tourism pressures that threaten both natural habitats and community wellbeing.
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The guide highlights that issues like overtourism, fragile ecosystems, and local communities struggling to cope are central concerns. Fodor’s describes the list as a “gentle but pointed nudge” encouraging visitors to give certain destinations a break—not permanently, but for the sake of recovery.
In 2025 alone, the Canary Islands welcomed 7.8 million tourists and handled over 27 million airport passengers in the first half of the year—a five percent increase from prior years. Tourism accounts for over one-third of the islands’ GDP and provides jobs for nearly 40% of residents. Yet, as the guide warns, this success comes with a significant price.
Residents face growing traffic congestion, inflated housing rents, environmental degradation, and water shortages. Experts caution that the combination of increasing visitor numbers and climate change creates an unsustainable future for the islands. For many locals, tourism is both an economic lifeline and a source of strain.
While other Spanish destinations like Barcelona and Majorca appeared on previous lists, they are absent this year. Fodor’s emphasises this does not mean these places have resolved their challenges—instead, attention has shifted toward other locations urgently needing respite.
Alongside the Canary Islands, other notable places on the 2026 ‘No List’ include Antarctica, Glacier National Park (USA), Isola Sacra (Italy), The Jungfrau Region (Switzerland), Mexico City (Mexico), Mombasa (Kenya), and Montmartre in Paris, France.