As 2024 winds down, it is solely proper to sit up for 2025 on your subsequent journey. With that comes two sides of the identical coin – the place to go and the place to not go.
Overtourism has been a serious concern for quite a few locations as hordes of tourists flock to beloved hometowns, disrupting the distinctive tradition that makes a selected place tick.
In sure cities, it has been a years-long battle, whereas others are simply starting to see the primary steps of a downward spiral.
Fodor’s is without doubt one of the most trusted names within the business, annually releasing the world’s ‘Go’s and ‘No’s. Final yr, we coated the identical subject and plenty of you chimed in.
We invite you to do the identical as we unveil Fodor’s 2025 rendition of the No List, once more highlighting 9 locations to keep away from.
Bali: Has Indonesia’s Shining Star Fizzled Out?
Bali is once more being known as out as a repeat offender, however this time for no enhancements.
A storm of controversy not too long ago took over U.S. headlines when common roast comic Tony Hinchcliffe zinged Puerto Rico as a ‘pile of rubbish’ at an election rally.
The punchline might have been extra correct for Bali since the preferred seashores are sometimes flooded with garbage.
Whereas dissing the island as ‘rubbish’ holds no weight for his or her pleasant locals, what’s missed in Bali’s hype as the final word Southeast Asian paradise is waaaaay too many vacationers, speedy environmental erosion, much less genuine tradition, and sure, unpleasant heaps of plastic waste always washing ashore.
It appears Bali has held on to its international acclaim as an icon, however these days it is seen extra as a standing image – “look the place I’m” versus “look what I discovered”.
Relatively than cope with Bali’s complications, maybe give Indonesia’s up-and-coming island an opportunity?
Koh Samui: Was Nothing Realized From Phuket’s Errors?
Phuket was not too long ago topped the world’s most overcrowded tourist destination, so did vacationers flock to Koh Samui as an alternative?
After all, it does not assist that the 2025 launch of the favored HBO present White Lotus will solely entice extra guests.
“Much like Bali, rubbish and visitors are main points. Koh Samui is just 95 sq. miles and holds a monstrous 200,000 tons of waste in its landfill, fairly actually smelling like a looming catastrophe.
Apart from the unpleasant scents and sights, speedy growth has been a difficulty the place water remedy has been known as into query together with the protection of recent development websites, resembling villas and resorts.
Perhaps strive certainly one of Thailand’s many different seaside paradises?
Mount Everest: Is It Supposed To Be Unreachable?
Mount Everest tops many bucket lists; too many, in actual fact. To not be grotesque; these are simply info of what you could encounter on what you think about to be a trek of a lifetime, which definitely has its downsides:
- Human stays
- Human waste
- Piles of rubbish
As superb as it might be to have a beer on the highest level above sea degree, Mom Nature has put all of the obstacles right here to say, “hey, possibly you should not do that”.
Nepal’s villages have been reworked into vacationer hubs fairly than genuine teahouses and houses.
As tourism numbers have doubled, excessive dangers for damage and dying have been pushed apart. Sadly, some might get a first-hand reminder as deceased climbers are left behind, a haunting testomony to the highly effective parts.
If you would like to discover Nepal’s mountains, try Pokhara, an excellent low cost city within the Himalayas gaining recognition.
Agrigento: Italy’s 2025 ‘Capital Of Tradition’
You most likely know how one can ask for water in Spanish, however may you get by in Italian?
Sicily’s Agrigento picked a nasty time to tackle the title of ‘Capital of Tradition’ since there’s an excessive water disaster.
As such, internet hosting extra vacationers is a giant query mark. Irrespective of who factors the finger, the truth is it is an actual problem.
Mom Nature being the primary offender, nonetheless, as there’s been an unprecedented drought affecting water provide to the purpose of issuing a state of emergency final winter.
Some resort employees are already fearing reservation cancellations if fast options aren’t discovered.
To play it secure, it could be finest to skip the traditional metropolis of Agrigento and go for Italy’s trendiest escape as an alternative.
Oaxaca: Outdated Metropolis Meets New Vacationers
Again once I first visited in 2019, town was pleasant to go to, brimming with timeless appeal, dark-lit mezcalerias, and buzzing markets.
These days, it is misplaced a way of authenticity signaling native protests. It is not simply Oaxaca Metropolis both; it spreads by means of the state all the way in which to the coast, the place Puerto Escondido’ issues are nothing to scoff at.
Value spikes have pushed locals to the brink, together with a surge in Airbnb properties taking away from town’s distinctive character.
Oaxaca can be coping with infrastructure points to fulfill calls for for inhabitants overload. At one level, some locals did not have water for over a month.
If you would like a way of actual Mexico with out the crowds, try Mexico’s slice of Europe or comply with the UN’s recommendation to enterprise into certainly one of Oaxaca’s unknown pueblo magicos.
British Virgin Islands: Cruisin’ For A Bruisin’
Tourism officers within the British Virgin Islands (BVI) appear to be taking a nonchalant strategy to locals’ issues.
The principle concern is that cruises are such a focus that residents aren’t seeing dividends as a trickle-down impact.
That alone is notable, however even when cruisers opted for longer stays, questions come up if the BVI is correctly geared up for rising numbers.
For instance, when Hurricane Irma worn out a wastewater remedy plan in 2017, it was years earlier than working effectively once more after inflicting sewage run-off into the island’s vibrant blue waters.
Though $100 million shall be invested for vital upgrades throughout the board, it is estimated to be $600 million in need of what’s wanted.
These with the Caribbean on their brains might need to try Dominica as an alternative, and so they are craving American vacationers.
Tokyo: Too Low-cost Or Too Crowded?
Is it potential to be too low cost? Japan thinks so.
Some of the fascinating cities on the planet has seen its forex (yen) drop considerably, triggering vacationers worldwide to e-book journeys to stretch their wallets.
Sadly, the cheapness issue has additionally triggered crowds at delicate sights like Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture, amongst others.
In truth, Tokyo’s largest pure attraction, Mt. Fuji, has new limitations in locations. That being mentioned, Tokyo shall be tiring to discover, so it is as much as you to determine.
Usually an important different, Kyoto additionally made the ‘No Record’. Maybe Osaka is best fitted to you in 2025.
Scotland’s North Coast 500: Highway Journeys Not Welcome
Scotland has seen a spike in American recognition, with one such place often called the area’s finest street journey vacation spot – the North Coast 500.
The issue is that the cats are out of the bag, leading to complications for vacationers and locals alike, particularly increased costs and visitors congestion.
Roads cannot deal with the inflow, and locals have had their fill not shopping for what native authorities are promoting so far as options go.
Whereas it could be engaging to witness Scotland’s well-known Highland cattle with emo haircuts, it could be finest to enterprise elsewhere.
In the event you’re up for brand new thrills, try the thrilling first-of-its-kind prepare to Edinburgh!
Spain: Know What You are Signing Up For
Final however definitely not least is Spain. Relatively than sum up Spain’s overtourism to 1 vacation spot, it is necessary for vacationers to know what they’re signing up for when visiting certainly one of Europe’s most sought-after locations.
Fodor’s talked about Barcelona, Mallorca, and the Canary Islands as no-go locations, primarily for a similar cause: locals don’t need you.
However the identical might be mentioned for Madrid and Malaga, amongst others. Spain has turn out to be so common that it is difficult to seek out hidden gems.
Nonetheless, it is doubtless you could encounter stink-eye reactions to your presence as costs surge and cities lose their ethos.
For an undiscovered island escape, try Spain’s finest stored secret off the standard vacationer path, so to talk.
Fodor’s 15 ‘No’ Locations
In whole, Fodor’s offered 15 locations throughout the globe to rethink visiting in 2025.
Right here is the complete checklist:
- Bali
- Barcelona
- Venice
- Canary Islands
- Mallorca
- Lisbon
- Koh Samui
- Mt. Everest
- Agrigento
- British Virgin Islands
- Kerala
- Tokyo
- Kyoto
- Oaxaca
- Scotland North Coast 500
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Opinions expressed listed here are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, permitted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the submit.
