Travel publisher Fodor’s has released its annual “No List” of destinations it recommends avoiding in 2025, citing the damaging effects of mass tourism on housing, local communities, and the environment.
The list, which Fodor’s has published since 2017, does not call for outright boycotts. Instead, it highlights locations where the impact of tourism has reached unsustainable levels, leading to overcrowding, strained infrastructure, or community backlash.
In Europe, rising housing costs and protests have placed several cities on the list. In Asia, mismanaged waste and environmental stress are key concerns.
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, Spain, features prominently. Residents held protests last summer, spraying tourists with water and holding signs reading “Tourism is killing the city.” With short-term rentals outpricing locals, Barcelona’s mayor has announced a ban from 2028 on using residential apartments for tourist accommodation.
Mallorca and Canary Islands, Spain
Elsewhere in Spain, Mallorca and the Canary Islands are also included. On Mallorca, residents rallied against the overcrowding of formerly secluded beaches like Es Caló des Moro, where visitors now queue for hours. On the Canary Islands, over 18 million tourists visited in 2023, more than eight times the population, sparking mass protests and a 19-day hunger strike against two resort developments.
Venice, Italy
Venice, Italy, appears again after previous entries in 2018, 2023 and 2024. The city recently introduced a €5 day-visitor fee during peak seasons and banned cruise ships from its lagoon. UNESCO has criticised Venice for failing to adequately protect its cultural heritage from tourism-related degradation.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal, is also on the list. Around 60 percent of housing in the capital is now aimed at tourists, and the city has lost nearly a third of its population since 2013. Local reports describe neighbourhoods where permanent residents are now a minority in their own buildings.
Bali, Indonesia
In Asia, waste accumulation is a central theme. On Bali, Indonesia, tourist numbers reached 6.3 million last year, while the island’s population is 4.4 million. Popular beaches like Kuta and Seminyak are littered with plastic, and local waste systems are unable to cope with the volume.
Ko Samui, Thailand
Ko Samui, Thailand, hosted 3.54 million tourists in 2023, nearly 10,000 per day, on an island slightly larger than Helsinki. The island’s landfill is overwhelmed, with waste transported daily to the mainland. Water use by golf courses and resorts, along with noise from parties and boats, has disturbed local ecosystems. Fears have grown that the new season of the TV series White Lotus, set on the island, could intensify the pressure.
Mount Everest, Nepal
At the other extreme, Mount Everest, Nepal, remains a popular destination for affluent trekkers. Local guides report that many visitors are unfit for high-altitude climbing, and the waste left behind includes human excrement and rubbish that is difficult to remove. Helicopters cannot reach high enough to evacuate the waste, and the area faces lasting environmental harm.
Fodor’s also named several places where tourism pressure is rising rapidly. These include Kyoto and Tokyo in Japan, Agrigento in Sicily, the British Virgin Islands, Kerala in India, Oaxaca in Mexico, and Scotland’s North Coast 500 driving route.
The list urges travellers to consider the cumulative impact of their visits and to avoid destinations where tourism is placing an unmanageable burden on residents or the environment.
HT
