British tourists planning to head abroad for their holidays next year should steer clear of certain European countries as they are now “suffering” under the weight of “untenable popularity”, a travel guide has warned.
“Some of these highly coveted tourist spots are collapsing under the burden of their own prominence,” warned Fodor ahead of Christmas.
The list includes several destinations which this year have been rocked by protests due to overtourism.
“The destinations featured on the No List deserve the fame and adoration they receive. They are worthy of your time and money. Yet, the myriad challenges they face are both real and urgent,” Fodor explained.
“The No List serves to highlight destinations where tourism is placing unsustainable pressures on the land and local communities.”
The list includes Barcelona, Majorca, Lisbon, Venice, Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, all of which have been affected by demonstrations against the models of mass tourism or have implemented strict rules to control the crowds.
For example, in April this year, 20,000 and 50,000 people across the Canary Islands participated in coordinated protests against excess tourism, which campaigners argue has damaged the welfare of the population and the islands’ environment.
A month later, about 10,000 people protested in Palma de Mallorca, the capital of Majorca, and protests occurred the day before on other Balearic Islands.
In Barcelona, political measures have been taken to combat the negative effects of overtourism. In June, Mayor Jaume Collboni announced he would end short-term rentals in Barcelona by 2028 – aiming to reduce the impact on the housing market of landlords renting properties at inflated rates intended for tourists.
Following continued protests in July, Collboni announced plans to raise the tourist tax on cruise ship visitors to the city staying less than 12 hours.
In the iconic Italian city of Venice, a five-euro (around £4) day-tripper tax was introduced, aimed at reducing crowds and improving residents’ quality of life.
Fodor makes it clear that it does not advocate for travel boycotts: “They harm local economies and fail to bring about meaningful change”.
“But we do believe that the first step to alleviating a problem is recognising there is one.”
“In virtually all of Europe’s most popular destinations, the cost of housing–and therefore the cost of living in general–has become untenable for locals.
“It’s estimated that 60% of dwellings in Lisbon are now vacation accommodations, reducing the inventory of long-term rental units and driving up costs,” it warned. “The city, which recently ranked as the third least financially viable place to live globally, has lost approximately 30% of its population since 2013.”
Daniel Pardo Rivacoba, a member of the Barcelona activist group Assembly of Neighborhoods for Tourism Degrowth, said: “The problem is now, [and has been ongoing for] at least 15 years.
“Nothing proves they will do that. Once again, it is much more about pretending to do than about doing.”
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