The Canary Islands have long been a favored destination for British vacationers due to their constant sunshine and high-end resorts. However, local residents have recently protested against excessive tourism on these Spanish islands. They attribute increasing housing prices to holiday rentals and express anger over the environmental impact of the millions of visitors.
The phrase ‘Tourists go home’ has been seen spray-painted in various locations across the Canary Islands and even in popular spots on the Spanish mainland. Consequently, the Canary Islands were placed on a ‘No List’ by Fodor’s Travel for 2025 and have retained their spot for 2026. The list aims to draw attention to destinations where tourism is straining the land and local communities, as reported by Manchester Evening News.
Fodor’s highlighted issues such as overcrowded tourist sites, delicate ecosystems, and communities struggling to cope. They emphasized the need to give these locations a break to ease the pressures they face. In 2025, tourism in the Canary Islands saw a significant uptick, with 7.8 million visitors and over 27 million airport passengers in the first half of the year, marking a five percent increase from previous years. While tourism plays a crucial role in the islands’ economy, providing jobs for about 40% of the population and contributing over a third to the GDP, it comes at a cost.
Local residents are feeling the effects of increased traffic, rising rental prices, environmental damage, and water shortages due to the influx of tourists. Fodor’s warned that the combination of a growing number of visitors and climate change is unsustainable for the region. While tourism is essential for the Canary Islands’ economy, locals often do not reap the full benefits.
While Barcelona and Majorca were on the ‘No List’ in the past, they did not make the list this year. However, Fodor’s cautions against overwhelming these destinations with tourists, as they still face challenges. The publication stressed the need to shift focus away from the usual tourist hotspots and consider other locations that also require respite.
In addition to the Canary Islands, this year’s ‘No List’ by Fodor’s includes Antarctica, Glacier National Park (USA), Isola Sacra (Italy), The Jungfrau Region (Switzerland), Mexico City (Mexico), Mombasa (Kenya), and Montmartre (Paris, France).
