The prestigious American travel magazine Fodor's has released its annual list of destinations best avoided in the coming year. "This is not a call for boycott," the editors emphasized. "It's a gentle but precise nudge to take the pressure off a certain destination for the near term – not forever."
The magazine noted in its introduction that "longtime readers may notice some familiar names are missing this year – Venice or Barcelona, for example (you can read about their ongoing struggles in last year's list). These destinations haven't magically healed, they're still mired in problems, but constant accusations sometimes draw attention away from other areas requesting a break. This list is a gentle but precise push to relieve pressure from a certain destination for the near term – not forever – and allow rest for places that clearly need it."
The southernmost continent on Earth is suffering from a sharp rise in tourism, despite having no economy based on visitors or need for tourist dollars. In the 2023-2024 season, approximately 120,000 visitors arrived, and by 2033, this number could double – a figure that raises concern due to direct impact on one of the world's most sensitive regions.
Researchers and field workers say there is value in the Antarctic experience as long as it translates to environmental awareness, but in practice the reality is more complex. While organized expedition ships create "only" cumulative pressure on habitats, the growing concern is actually from private vessels and ships not subject to oversight organizations. These vessels often operate without coordination or commitment to environmental rules, exposing the area to unmanaged loads.
Since Antarctica has no official limit on visitor numbers, environmental organizations warn that the region is heading toward mass tourism that contradicts its fragile nature. Volunteer bodies like IAATO try to establish conduct rules, but without authority to restrict entry, the situation could worsen.
The Canary Islands are experiencing heavy tourist overload, especially in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote. More than 7.8 million visitors arrived in just the first half of 2025, an unprecedented figure leading to mass protests under the slogan: "The Canaries have a limit."
Traffic congestion, skyrocketing housing prices, and pressure on water sources have made residents' lives challenging. Environmental organizations report severe damage to biodiversity and depletion of natural areas. Short-term rentals like Airbnb have made local apartments inaccessible for young people and longtime residents.
New regulations attempting to limit vacation rentals have yet to impact the ground situation. Activists warn that new projects and additional hotels are approved constantly, while basic infrastructure – water, roads, and drainage – collapses under the load.
Glacier National Park is experiencing one of the most severe environmental crises in the US: of the 150 glaciers present at the beginning of the 20th century, only 27 remain, and they too could disappear by 2030. This fact creates a wave of "last chance tourism" – visitors rushing to see a glacier before it's too late.
Visitor numbers in 2024 increased by 300,000 people compared to the previous year, leading to traffic congestion, trail closures due to fires, and harm to wildlife. Air quality is affected, and hikers are crowded into a limited number of trails or left out due to mandatory advance reservations for main roads.
On the artificial island in the Tiber estuary at Fiumicino, a massive port is planned to accommodate the world's largest cruise ships – a move that has sparked stubborn public opposition since 2010. Residents fear destruction of dunes, wetlands, and rare vegetation that provide homes for hundreds of wildlife species.
The council promises environmental protections, but official reports point to lack of transparency and the fact that some environmental documents have yet to be approved. Experts warn that massive seabed excavation will pollute the sand and create new erosion along the coastline.
Beyond natural damage, residents fear loss of local heritage, such as traditional fishing houses. The expected traffic congestion, along with the movement of thousands of passengers per day on their way to Rome, will add pollution and create a burden this area cannot bear.
One of Switzerland's most popular regions enjoys dramatic views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau – but this popularity has become a double-edged sword. In 2024, tourism reached new peaks, including more than a million visitors to Jungfraujoch alone.
The Eiger Express cable car allows reaching the glacier's edge in 15 minutes, but also brings enormous congestion: buses block mountain roads, delicate trails around Kleine Scheidegg are worn down, and Lauterbrunnen, which became a viral hit on social networks, is flooded with day visitors. Glaciers in the area, primarily Aletsch, are retreating at an alarming rate.
Hotel owners report changes in tourism patterns: visitors stay less, consume less, and rent Airbnb apartments instead of local accommodations. Residents struggle to find housing, and small business owners' incomes are eroding. Here too, over-tourism damages the very foundation meant to sustain it.
The wave of remote worker immigration from North America, combined with the Airbnb explosion, led to a veritable social explosion. On July 4th, stormy protests erupted in the city against gentrification and rising housing prices, with signs bearing messages like "Mexico for Mexicans."
Tour guides and social activists claim Airbnb encourages tenant eviction, commercializes local culture, and damages the social fabric. Neighborhoods like Condesa, Roma, and Polanco have become "neo-colonies": apartments offered in dollars, restaurant spiciness adapted for tourists, and English replacing Spanish.
On the other hand, some residents claim the government is to blame, due to thousands of abandoned apartments, lack of regulation, and agreements with Airbnb. New regulations will limit short-term rentals to 180 nights per year but will only take effect after the 2026 World Cup.
Mombasa, Kenya's ancient coastal city, is collapsing under massive tourist overload. It hosts 70% of visitors to the Kenyan coast, and exploding demand brings traffic congestion, pollution, wild construction, and severe erosion of coastlines.
Historic sites like Fort Jesus and the Old Town are flooded with tourists, while sewage and garbage infrastructure collapses. Environmental organizations document severe sea pollution: raw sewage flows directly into the water, damaging mangroves and coral.
Despite establishing a tourism council and attempts to draft a law for beach management, there are almost no solutions on the ground. Researchers warn that Mombasa could become a destination travelers simply stop visiting – just before it loses its charm.
Montmartre, Paris's hilly and picturesque neighborhood, has become a destination of constant overload in the past decade: more than 11 million visitors annually visit the Sacré-Cœur Basilica – more than the Eiffel Tower – and the tourist flood is already spilling into corners that were previously quiet. The narrow streets, Place du Tertre, and tourist shops push out locals, for whom the situation is already unbearable. Meanwhile, real estate prices have soared, and longtime community institutions like the CLAP pétanque club have given way to luxury hotels.
While the city claims it's reducing vacation rentals and preserving schools, projects like turning the hill into a pedestrian zone cause prolonged infrastructure work that burdens residents' lives. Experts warn that if the trend continues, Montmartre could empty of residents and become merely a "tourist backdrop."
