Lifestyle Trend: UK holidaymakers warned as Lanzarote and Tenerife slapped with ‘no travel’ warning You Should Know

Tourists are being urged to think twice before visiting Lanzarote and Tenerife this summer amid environmental concerns and growing anti-tourism protests

Lanzarote and Tenerife have been added to Fodor’s ‘No List,’ with UK travellers advised to think twice before visiting this summer. The Canary Islands were placed on the list following growing concerns over anti-tourism demonstrations and the environmental and cultural strain caused by mass tourism.

During the first six months of 2025, the eight Canary Islands welcomed more than 7.8 million tourists, while airport traffic exceeded 27 million passengers. Despite the influx of visitors, locals in Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote have taken to the streets over the past two years, protesting the pressures tourism places on their local communities – as they highlighted the negative effects of over-tourism.

Environmental concerns are also mounting in the Canary Islands. A report from France24 earlier this year revealed that wastewater equivalent to 40 Olympic-sized swimming pools is discharged daily into the surrounding seas, alarming environmental groups in Tenerife.

ATAN, one of the islands’ oldest conservation organisations, told Fodor’s that: “They are losing their identity, culture, and, ultimately, their right to exist as a community.”

Fodor clarified that inclusion on the No List is “not a call for boycott,” but rather a way “to highlight destinations where tourism is placing unsustainable pressures on the land and local communities”.

They 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.”

The guidance comes as British holidaymakers reportedly begin to avoid the islands amid escalating anti-tourism protests, Birmingham Live reports. Fodor warned: “Academics and experts warn that the combination of rising visitor numbers and a warming climate is unsustainable.”

While tourism remains a crucial lifeline for many Canarians, it comes with a cost. “For many Canarians, tourism is both a lifeline and a burden. The islands rely heavily on visitor spending, yet locals often see little of it,” the guide said.

The anti-tourism demonstrations have grown louder, with residents calling for limits on holiday rentals and stricter regulations on visitor numbers. In Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote, protests have at times blocked roads, disrupted tourist attractions and drawn media attention to the islands’ struggle to balance economic needs with sustainability.

According to a recent study, 56 per cent of UK holidaymakers who would normally visit the Canaries opted for other destinations this year.

Jenna Banks, spokesperson for Slice Mobile, which commissioned the survey of 2,000 Brits, said: “It’s clear from the research that Britain’s love of Spain has been put to the test.

She continued: “We may not have said adios to Marbella completely, but with long-haul destinations like Dubai and America becoming more popular, finding a mobile network that offers great value international roaming, like Slice Mobile, is more important than ever.”