They are a ‘victim of their own success’
Three popular Spanish holiday destinations have been deemed ‘forbidden’ for travel this year by a leading travel guide.
Fodors’ 2025 named Majorca, Barcelona and the Canary Islands on its forbidden list due to tourist saturation.
The guide acknowledged that Spanish locations were a victim of their own success, being unable to cope with the sheer number of tourists, warning that visiting such busy places ‘rarely results in happy travellers’.
The guide said: “Touring cities full of tourists is frustrating; Sightseeing in villages where locals resent your presence is disturbing and wandering through nature plagued by garbage is depressing.”
It echoed sentiments held by residents during anti tourism protests throughout 2024, saying “Governments tend to prioritise visitor experiences over the well-being of local residents”.
All three locations experienced anti-tourism protests last year. 20,000 protestors reportedly gathered in Palma, Majorca in July with signs which read: “Your luxury, our misery.”
Tourist services have sprawled so much over Cala Major beach that a Majorcan resident association was set to make a formal complaint.
Meanwhile, in Barcelona, mayor Jaume Collboni announced that tourist flats will be banned by November 2028, which he says restricts the local housing supply and drives up prices, in an attempt to relieve the city’s housing crisis.
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The Canary Islands is looking to move away from the all-inclusive “sun and beach” tourism model, to instead promote environmentally conscious and sustainable tourism.
Despite the regions appearing on the forbidden list, Fodors acknowledged the beauty of these locations.
The travel guide said: “The destinations on the list of ‘forbidden’ places deserve the fame and adoration they receive and they are worthy of their time and money.”
Venice, Tokyo and Bali all feature on the Fodor’s 2025 ‘forbidden list’ as well as the three Spanish locations.
