Irish holidaymakers planning trips to the Canary Islands have been issued with a travel warning after the popular tourist destinations were placed on a ‘no list’.
Playa Dorada at the village Playa Blanca in Lanzarote(Image: Getty Images)
It’s that time of year again when Irish holidaymakers begin planning and booking their summer 2026 getaways. With thousands expected to jet off in the coming months, Spain remains one of the most popular choices for travellers.
Last year was a record-breaking year for Irish trips to Spain, with visitor numbers topping three million for the first time ever – a historic milestone representing growth of 10.1%.
Among the most popular destinations are the Canary Islands, which enjoy year-round sunshine. However, a travel warning has now been issued for tourists planning a trip to the region.
The Canary Islands have been placed on Fodor’s annual ‘No List’ amid growing anti-tourism protests, environmental concerns and pollution affecting beaches.
During the first six months of 2025 alone, the island group welcomed more than 7.8 million tourists, while airports across the islands recorded more than 27 million passengers.
But residents have taken to the streets in Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria over the past two years, protesting against the huge influx of travellers who visit the islands each year.
Explaining the unrest that has dominated headlines in recent years, Fodor said: “Their message was clear: booming tourism, soaring housing costs, and mounting environmental strain are threatening the foundations of island life.”
Campaign groups have also voiced fears about the long-term impact on local communities. ATAN, one of the oldest such groups, told Fodor that “they are losing their identity, culture, and, ultimately, their right to exist as a community”.
Environmental concerns have also been raised, particularly around pollution in coastal waters. According to a report published earlier this year, wastewater equivalent to around 40 Olympic-sized swimming pools is discharged into the sea around the islands every day.
Fodor added: “Imagine wading into what should be crystalline hotel resort waters, only to realise that 100 million liters of untreated or barely treated sewage gush into the sea every day, swamping beaches with fecal contamination.”
Despite the warning, Fodor stressed that the list is not intended as a “boycott” of the destinations. It instead aims to draw attention to places where tourism is placing increasing pressure on local communities and environments.
It added: “The ‘No List’ serves a gentle but pointed nudge to ease up on a spot for now – not forever – and give a rest to any location that clearly needs a breather.”
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