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The sun-kissed Spanish islands have been a British tourism hotspot for many years
For years, the Canary Islands have been a top pick for Brits seeking sun-soaked holidays. The Spanish isles, known for their year-round sunshine, lively resorts and a convenient four-hour flight time, have long been a hit with UK tourists.
The relationship has been mutually beneficial: as the demand for sunny getaways surged in the latter half of the 20th century, resorts popped up across the islands, and the influx of tourist cash significantly boosted the local economy. However, the tide seemed to turn in 2024, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Locals began protesting against mass tourism, pointing out its detrimental effects on the environment, local infrastructure, and housing prices. Similar demonstrations were seen in other popular European holiday destinations.
So, the Canary Islands found themselves on Fodor’s Travel ‘No List’ for 2025 – and they’ve made the list again for 2026. The travel guide was quick to clarify that the list is “not a call for boycott”, but rather an attempt “to highlight destinations where tourism is placing unsustainable pressures on the land and local communities. “.
The publication pointed out that the key issues raised by the list are “overtouristed sites, fragile ecosystems and communities struggling to stay afloat”. Fodor’s stated: “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.”
The Canary Islands have seen a significant surge in tourism in 2025, with a whopping 7.8 million visitors gracing the islands and more than 27 million airport passengers processed in the first half of the year alone, marking a five per cent increase on previous years. Fodor’s highlights that tourism accounts for more than a third of the Canary Islands’ GDP and provides employment for approximately 40 per cent of its population, but this success is not without its drawbacks.
The local population feels the impact of the influx of visitors on traffic, housing (including escalating rental prices), damage to the natural environment and water scarcity. The guide warns: “Academics and experts warn that the combination of rising visitor numbers and a warming climate is unsustainable.”
It further notes: “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 like Barcelona and Majorca were highlighted, but they are absent from this year’s list. However, Fodor’s emphasises that this doesn’t mean tourists should descend upon them en masse.
The publication states: “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.”
In addition to the Canary Islands, Antarctica, Glacier National Park in the USA, Isola Sacra in Italy, The Jungfrau Region in Switzerland, Mexico City in Mexico, Mombasa in Kenya, and Montmartre in Paris, France also made it onto this year’s ‘No List’.
