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Recently, the "No List 2026" published by the renowned travel website Fodor's Travel warned about the pressure the tourism industry is placing on fragile ecosystems and the lives of indigenous people. From the frigid Antarctic to the romantic artist district of Montmartre, many destinations around the world are struggling to survive in the face of the global influx of tourists.
Fodor's Travel, a leading American travel website, has officially released its attention-grabbing "No List 2026." Fodor's editors quickly clarified that this is not a call to boycott travel. Instead, the list is a serious message, a responsible reminder to raise awareness among travelers about places suffering from tourism overload, possessing extremely fragile ecosystems, or where local communities are struggling to protect their livelihoods and cultural identity.
Fodor's goal is to divert tourists' attention away from overly familiar destinations to less well-known places that are facing the risk of ecological or social collapse.
Antarctica
Antarctica, a pristine, icy continent, is by its very nature a place that doesn't need tourists. However, statistics show that it received 120,000 visitors in 2023-2024 alone. This number is projected to double by 2033, causing great concern among conservationists.
Political science professor Mike Gunter, who has visited Antarctica, acknowledges that tourism can be valuable if visitors translate that experience into practical action for sustainability issues. However, in reality, most tourists simply travel in herd mentality without making any significant impact. The increase in cruise ships not only causes pollution but also severely disrupts the lives of wildlife.
Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
Glacier National Park, open since 1910, is grappling with warming at nearly double the global average. The tourism boom here is dubbed "last chance for tourism"—a term with controversial origins stemming from the U.S. government's relocation of the indigenous Blackfeet tribe.
Glacier National Park is a popular tourist destination in the United States, boasting stunning natural landscapes and excellent wildlife conservation.
Sadly, it is the glaciers that are truly disappearing: from around 150 glaciers at the beginning of the 20th century, only 27 remain, and they are projected to melt completely by 2030. Tourists flock here to "see the glaciers one last time," inadvertently fueling this craze and contributing to increased temperatures, frequency, and scale of wildfires. Fodor's Travel warns that excessive human interest is accelerating the destruction of nature in this area.
The park complex, spanning 457,514 hectares from Alberta (Canada) to Montana (USA), was created to commemorate the friendship between the two North American nations.
Jungfrau, Switzerland
The Jungfrau region, famous for the Jungfraujoch peak and the Aletsch Glacier – a UNESCO World Heritage site – is experiencing an uncontrolled tourism boom. Jungfraujoch alone welcomed over one million visitors in 2024, a 5.1% increase from the previous year. The Aletsch Glacier, the longest in the Alps, has shrunk by approximately 2.25 km in the last 75 years.
Mico Witzke, a local guide, said that the shift of many homeowners to short-term rentals is increasing pressure on the Alps, from waste disposal to infrastructure. Fodor's argues that the region is failing to balance tourism economics, the welfare of local people, and sustainable conservation goals.
Canary Islands, Spain
In just the first half of the year, the Canary Islands welcomed 7.8 million tourists and handled over 27 million airport passengers. This record-breaking tourism growth has become unbearable for the local population.
The Canary Islands, also known as the Canarias, are an archipelago and autonomous community of Spain.
In May, thousands marched in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote with the defiant slogan: "Canarias tiene un límite" (The Canary Islands have their limits). Tourism contributes more than 30% of GDP, but the price paid is soaring housing costs, young people being almost unable to rent or buy a home, and severe traffic congestion (a 40-minute journey now lasts over an hour). Overtourism is directly threatening the foundations of sustainable life on the islands.
Montmartre, France
Montmartre, Paris's romantic artists' quarter, is facing a situation where tourism is literally "swallowing" it up. The area welcomes around 11 million visitors annually, even more than the Eiffel Tower, turning its narrow streets into a constant stream of crowds.
The consequences are noise, litter, and especially a housing crisis. Property prices here have increased by 35% in just one year, while the number of long-term rental apartments has decreased significantly (from 9,100 to 8,800 in two years), with most shifting to Airbnb. Urban geographer Rémy Knafou warns of the risk of "empty populations"—where long-term residents leave, leaving only souvenir shops and services catering to tourists.
Mexico
Mexico City is under immense pressure from short-term renters and digital nomads. Following the pandemic, the city recorded 25,000 short-term rentals, a 35% increase, leading to hyperinflation in rent. Housing prices in central areas like Condesa have increased eightfold between 2000 and 2018. This situation not only pushes local residents out of neighborhoods but also leads to the commercialization of local culture. Experts have called for banning Airbnb in certain areas to protect community cohesion and local identity.
Mombasa, Kenya
As Kenya's main seaside tourist hub, Mombasa is under immense pressure from overcrowding. Natural resources are depleted, streets are littered with trash, and untreated wastewater is being discharged directly into the sea, causing severe marine pollution. Dr. Juliet W. Muchiri, a senior lecturer in tourism, emphasizes that the government urgently needs to conduct a "carrying capacity" study to protect social cohesion and preserve the authenticity of the destination before it's too late.
Mombasa is a coastal city on the Indian Ocean in Kenya. It is the oldest and second largest city in Kenya.
Including these less-noticed destinations on Fodor's Travel Alert will help travelers become more aware of their responsibilities, encouraging them to choose more sustainable and responsible travel in 2026.
