Overtourism alerts: 8 places to avoid in 2026
Dhaka: The international travel guide site Fodor's Travel has released the No List 2026, which includes 8 tourist destinations to be avoided for the time being.
This list is not a call for boycott, but an invitation for tourists to give these places a break to recover from overtourism pressures for the sake of environmental sustainability and local communities.
In its preamble, Fodor's emphasizes that the uncontrolled surge of tourists has damaged the ecosystem of almost every destination prioritizing tourism.
Local communities struggle to survive in a changing environment due to tourism.
Here are the 8 destinations included in Fodor's No List 2026 along with their main reasons:
Antarctica
Tourist arrivals jumped from under 8,000 in the 1990s to more than 124,000 in 2023–24, IAATO data shows. The continent’s fragile ecosystem cannot absorb mass tourism, and IAATO’s voluntary rules cannot limit numbers. Rising visits by non-member vessels add further risk.
Canary Islands, Spain
A tourism surge has led to traffic jams, soaring housing costs and environmental strain, including an estimated 100 million litres of untreated waste reaching beaches daily. Locals report cultural loss and say regulations remain insufficient.
Glacier National Park, US
Climate change is accelerating glacier melt, fuelling “last-chance” tourism that worsens congestion, pollution and wildlife disturbance. Park infrastructure and management measures are struggling to cope.
Isola Sacra, Italy
A major port project threatens coastal ecosystems through erosion, pollution and potential damage to protected areas. Locals oppose the development and warn of congestion from increased cruise traffic.
Jungfrau Region, Switzerland
Mass tourism is causing congestion, environmental pressure and tensions with residents. Climate change threatens the region’s glaciers, while short-term rentals worsen housing shortages.
Mexico City, Mexico
Tourism and foreign remote workers have intensified gentrification, pushing up rents, displacing residents and eroding community identity, heightening social tensions.
Mombasa, Kenya
The coastal city faces beach pollution, congestion and poor waste management. Crime risks and limited data on tourism capacity raise concerns about sustainability.
Montmartre, Paris
Visitor overcrowding is driving up property prices and eroding local culture. Residents say the neighbourhood is becoming less liveable due to tourism-focused policies.
Background
Bali topped Fodor’s “No List” last year, citing overtourism, 303,000 tonnes of plastic waste and 5.3 million foreign visitors in 2023.
Travel expert Kristin Winkaffe warned that without reforms, destinations risk environmental and cultural loss.
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