Antarctica Joins Spain, USA, Italy, Switzerland, and France in Being Fragile Hotspots That Cannot Handle More Travel, Here is Why You Need to Skip These in 2026

Published on November 26, 2025

The excitement of travel often overshadows its true cost. We eagerly book trips to dream destinations. But sometimes, our love for a place actually hurts it. This year, Fodor’s “No List 2026” urges a critical pause. It’s not a suggestion to stop traveling entirely; instead, it’s a vital plea for responsibility. This list reveals eight global hotspots that simply cannot handle more visitors. From the melting glaciers of Antarctica to the overcrowded beaches of Spain, these places are reaching a breaking point. USA national parks are struggling. Ancient cities in Italy and the beautiful mountains of Switzerland face a crisis of crowds and development. Even parts of vibrant France are losing their authentic character. We must now prioritize preservation over pure pleasure. We must choose to travel mindfully to protect the very beauty we seek. The time for blind exploration is over.

The Frozen Frontier: Why Antarctica is on the No List

Imagine a place so remote that it does not even need tourists. This place is Antarctica. It has no economy to boost with travel dollars. Yet, this icy continent is now on the list. The most recent figures show a shocking increase in visitors. From 2023 to 2024, Antarctica welcomed 120,000 people. Experts project this number could double by 2033. This makes the call for restraint urgent and necessary.

Scholars who study ecotourism are speaking out. Mike Gunter, a professor of political science, believes there is some value in a visit. However, he says the traveler must use the experience to impact larger sustainability issues. Unfortunately, he noted that over the last quarter-century, Antarctica has been moving toward mass tourism. This is a big problem. Large cruise ships cannot land there. But smaller, expedition-style ships can. This allows visitors to walk on the driest land on Earth and see calving glaciers. This is an extraordinary and mystical experience. Professor Elizabeth Leane of the University of Tasmania acknowledged that Antarctica still holds the mystique of being the last wilderness. She said this is a big attractor. Many people go to celebrate an important life event. It is a watershed moment, she said.

But the environment is very fragile. Jessica O’Reilly, an associate professor of anthropology, explained this. She said the environment is a rare one. That is why people want to go. But it is also why it cannot sustain high numbers of tourism. At this time, there are no limits on visitor numbers in Antarctica. Many cruise lines belong to a voluntary group called the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). This group promotes safe and responsible travel. It has rules for its members. But as of 2025, IAATO has no authority to cap visitor numbers, even though it represents over 100 companies.

The system is now stressed. This stress comes from growing tourism and more affluent people accessing the region with private ships. A primary concern is the growing interest in vessels that do not belong to IAATO. These ships do not follow the voluntary regulations. This lack of willingness to join is a huge problem for the continent. Most experts agree: Antarctica is not meant to be on anyone’s bucket list. Travelers should choose the right tour operator or advocate for the region at home. But for now, they must ease up on Antarctica.

Protest in Paradise: The Canary Islands, Spain

Behind the beautiful pictures of the Canary Islands, problems are growing fast. This Spanish archipelago is extremely popular. In just the first half of 2025, it welcomed 7.8 million visitors. The airports processed over 27 million passengers. This was a five percent increase from the previous year. It set a record. Now, local residents are asking a critical question: how much more can their islands take?

Thousands of people protested in May. They marched in Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. Their banner read, “Canarias tiene un límite”—”The Canaries have a limit.” Their message was loud and clear. The tourism boom is causing soaring housing costs and mounting environmental strain. These pressures are threatening the very foundation of island life in Spain.

Tourism is essential to Spain’s economy in this region. It makes up more than a third of the Canary Islands’ GDP. It employs about 40% of the population. But this success has created an enormous price tag. John Dale Beckley, founder of CanaryGreen.org, said that residents are genuinely fed up. Traffic is a huge issue. He said a drive that took 40 minutes can now take well over an hour in each direction.

Housing is a major flashpoint. The government previously changed regulations. These changes let residents rent properties on sites like Airbnb. This has dramatically driven up rental prices and property values. Now, many young people find it almost impossible to rent or buy a home in Spain.

An environmental group named ATAN echoed this reality. They said access to housing has become virtually impossible due to the invasion of vacation rentals. They also warned that natural spaces are constantly being degraded. There is an alarming loss of biodiversity. They lamented that overcrowding has erased peaceful places. There are no truly local spaces left for the communities on the islands.

Water scarcity is another looming crisis. Experts warned that the combination of rising visitor numbers and a warming climate is unsustainable. Desalination plants have helped a little. However, progress is uneven. Mr. Beckley said that buses are overcrowded and traffic jams are constant. He also added that beaches close more often because of pollution and sewage runoff. The situation is shocking: 100 million liters of untreated sewage gush into the sea daily. This contaminates the beaches. ATAN warned that the continuous arrival of new residents, mainly Europeans, worsens overpopulation and environmental degradation. Essential resources like water are pushed to their limits across Spain’s islands.

The regional government tried to help in early 2025. They introduced a law to bar new properties from being used for short-term rentals. They also required landlords to obtain permits. But locals are skeptical that these changes will solve the core problem. ATAN stated that regulatory changes have either deepened the destructive model or are just “window dressing.” They warned that the proposed law could actually double the number of accommodations. Meanwhile, large urban projects and new hotels keep getting approved. They said nothing is moving in the right direction.

Tourism is both a lifeline and a heavy burden for many Canarians. The islands depend on visitor spending. Yet, locals rarely see the profit. Mr. Beckley pointed out that today, large investment groups, often managed by foreigners, own most hotels. He concluded that much of the profit leaves the islands. Spain’s residents are losing their identity and culture. Activists claim tourism has become unlimited, mass-oriented and low-cost party tourism. They say visitors come only to consume a fake backdrop.

The Melting Crisis: Glacier National Park, USA

The story of Glacier National Park in USA is one of “last chance tourism.” The park opened in 1910. The U.S. government had previously displaced the Blackfeet tribe, the Indigenous guardians of Montana’s Northern Rockies. Now, more than a century later, the people are still there, but the glaciers are vanishing. Visitors are swarming to the park again. They want to see the ice before it is gone forever.

Glacier National Park (GNP) is heating up very quickly. It is warming at almost twice the global average rate. At the start of the 20th century, there were about 150 glaciers. Today, only 27 remain. All of these are expected to disappear soon. This dramatic retreat fuels an urgent rush of visitors to the USA park. This popularity, however, is a part of the problem. High visitor numbers strain the park’s fragile infrastructure and natural environment. This environmental crisis in the USA’s beautiful parks shows the need for greater mindfulness from travelers.

The Cruise Ship Threat: Isola Sacra, Italy

Isola Sacra is a quiet coastal district near Rome in Italy. This peaceful area is now at the center of a huge controversy. A large-scale project has been approved. It is for a massive cruise port near the town of Fiumicino. This plan would allow mega cruise ships to dock near the mouth of the Tiber River. Campaigners and residents are fighting against this.

The primary concerns are environmental. The seabed near Fiumicino is shallow. More than 105 million cubic feet of sand would need to be dug up to make a deep channel for the ships. Experts warn this dredging will have to be repeated in the future. It will also destroy the nearby protected natural area. This area is only 1,000 feet from the proposed construction site. Environmental experts say the flora and fauna would be devastated. Anna Longo, president of a local environmental group, noted that cement will cover large parts of the coastline. She stated that sustainability strategies cannot eliminate the impact of a project of this size on a delicate environment. The scenario, she said, appears “apocalyptic.”

Beyond the environment, the port will cause massive disruption. Thousands of cruise passengers would pour into the town. They would then travel onward to Rome. Rome is already struggling with over 35 million tourists every year. Experts warn the current road system in Italy cannot handle this traffic volume. Air pollution will soar, made worse by the hundreds of port workers making the same trip. This massive development in Italy is prioritizing tourist convenience over the lives of local residents and the health of the coastline.

Alpine Overload: The Jungfrau Region, Switzerland

The Jungfrau Region in central Switzerland is famous for its staggering Alpine scenery. It includes the beautiful villages of Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. The region is home to the imposing summits of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Its main challenge is clear: it must balance a booming tourism industry with the preservation of its environment. The popularity is straining natural resources and the residents’ quality of life in Switzerland. This makes the current moment critical for sustainability.

Visitor numbers and profits have reached record highs. Over a million people visited the Jungfraujoch—called “the Top of Europe”—in 2024. This was a 5.1% increase. The Eiger Express gondola transported over 2.1 million passengers. The booming demand shows how easy it has become to reach the high Alps. The Eiger Express now takes visitors to the glacier’s edge in just 15 minutes. This convenience has severe consequences for locals. Coaches jam the mountain roads. Paths show visible wear. Tour groups crowd the once-quiet waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen.

The changing climate also presents a dire picture. The Aletsch Glacier, Continental Europe’s largest Alpine glacier, has retreated more than 1.4 miles over the past 75 years. This glacier retreat is a clear symbol of the environmental pressures faced by Switzerland.

Tourism accounts for up to 90% of the local economy. But the shift is changing the visitor profile. A local manager noted that there are far more day visitors now. Most guests stay only one or two nights before quickly moving on. This kind of quick-stop tourism creates strain without investing in the local community long-term. This tension makes the Jungfrau Region in Switzerland a major concern for responsible travelers.

Urban Distress: Mexico City, Mombasa and Montmartre, France

While the mountains and the sea face environmental problems, several major urban areas are grappling with social crises caused by tourism.

Mexico City has seen an explosion in tourism. This has led to rapid gentrification. Rent prices are soaring and local residents are being displaced from their neighborhoods. The huge growth of short-term rentals, fueled by platforms like Airbnb, is commodifying living spaces. This has sparked social protests. Some neighborhoods have reportedly become “neo colonies.” Apartments are priced in dollars. Restaurants cater to tourists. The English language is replacing Spanish. Locals are frustrated that the city is increasingly relying on tourism at the expense of its long-term residents.

Mombasa, Kenya, a historic coastal city, is also buckling under pressure. It hosts about 70% of visitors to the Kenyan coast. This surge has brought overcrowding, congestion and uncontrolled building. Historic sites are flooded with visitors. Sewage and trash systems are collapsing. Environmental groups have documented severe marine pollution, including raw sewage flowing into the sea. This damages the mangroves and fisheries. Researchers warn that Mombasa could become a place travelers stop visiting—just as it loses its charm.

Finally, we turn to France. The picturesque Paris neighborhood of Montmartre is on the list. This area, popular for sights like the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, now receives over 11 million visitors. This is more than the Eiffel Tower. The overcrowding has caused rising prices and the displacement of locals. Residents are protesting the “Disneyfication” of Montmartre, France. They are seeing a decline in stores that cater to the local community. The sheer number of visitors is eroding the authenticity of this beloved part of France.

The Final Word on Responsible Travel

The Fodor’s No List for 2026 is a crucial reminder. It tells us that our desire to explore the world must be tempered by restraint. We have seen the environmental collapse in Antarctica and Glacier National Park. We have seen the social crisis in Spain and the development threats in Italy. We have seen the infrastructure strain in Switzerland and the cultural loss in France. Every traveler has the power to choose better.

The purpose is not to fear travel. It is to travel smarter. By easing up on these eight fragile hotspots, we give them a chance to breathe. We allow local communities to stabilize. We allow the environment to recover. We are asked to reflect on the true impact of our journeys. The beautiful places of Antarctica, Spain, the USA, Italy, Switzerland and France need our protection, not our unchecked enthusiasm. Skip these destinations in 2026. Instead, seek out those places that genuinely need and can support your visit.