For decades, the Canary Islands have been a beloved winter sun destination for British holidaymakers, but a growing backlash from residents has now placed the Spanish archipelago on a prominent travel advisory list for the second year running.
From Holiday Haven to 'No List' Destination
The influential travel guide Fodor's has included the Canary Islands on its 'No List' for 2026. This follows its placement on the same list in 2025. The guide is quick to stress that this is not a call for a boycott, but rather a "gentle but pointed nudge" to encourage tourists to reconsider visiting places where tourism is creating unsustainable strain.
Fodor's aims to highlight destinations where the sheer volume of visitors is placing excessive pressure on local communities, infrastructure, and fragile ecosystems. The publication notes that for the Canaries, tourism is a double-edged sword: it accounts for more than a third of the islands' GDP and employs around 40% of the population, yet the downsides are becoming impossible to ignore.
The Rising Tide of Tourist Numbers and Local Anger
The data reveals the scale of the challenge. In the first half of 2025 alone, the islands processed a staggering 27 million airport passengers. The full year saw approximately 7.8 million visitors, marking a 5% increase on previous years. This relentless growth has sparked significant local unrest.
Throughout 2024 and into 2025, residents took to the streets in large numbers to protest against the model of mass tourism. Their core grievances include:
- Skyrocketing rental prices and a housing crisis exacerbated by tourist accommodation.
- Chronic water scarcity and damage to the natural environment.
- Overwhelmed infrastructure and increased traffic congestion.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, these demonstrations echoed similar anti-tourism protests seen in other European hotspots. Locals argue that while tourism brings money, too little of that wealth stays within the community.
A Warming Climate and an Uncertain Future
Experts warn that the combination of ever-rising visitor numbers and the escalating effects of climate change is creating a perfect storm. The guide specifically references warnings from academics that the current situation is unsustainable.
Fodor's notes that while other Spanish destinations like Barcelona and Majorca, featured in previous years, are absent from the 2026 list, this does not mean their problems are solved. It indicates that the spotlight is shifting to other areas in critical need of respite.
The Canary Islands share the 2026 'No List' with diverse global locations, including:
- Antarctica
- Glacier National Park, USA
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Montmartre in Paris, France
The recurring message is clear: some of the world's most popular destinations are pleading for a pause to recover and rebalance the relationship with those who visit them.
