British holidaymakers seem to be rethinking their travel plans for 2025, with growing concerns over overtourism protests prompting a major shift in preferred European destinations. Barcelona, the Balearic islands and Venice , have emerged as the top three destinations Brits are now hesitant to visit, according to new research provided to the Express from travel insurance company, InsureandGo.

The survey showed that 68% of UK adults are now considering alternative holiday spots to avoid areas grappling with overtourism and increasing local opposition, meaning that two thirds are considering new holiday hotspots for 2025. The shift comes amid mounting reports of popular cities across Europe protesting against the environmental, economic, and cultural pressures caused by mass tourism in places like Barcelona or the Canary Islands.

The recent survey also revealed that 53% of people said they would be hesitant about visiting a number of favourite holiday hotspots following local protests on the negative impact of tourism.

Of those expressing concern, the top five holiday destinations Brits would be hesitant to visit in 2025, according to the survey, are Barcelona, Majorca and Menorca, Venice, Amsterdam, and Marbella.

Barcelona leads the list, with 45% of respondents hesitant to visit. The city has been seeing ongoing protests against mass tourism, with locals protesting against overcrowding, rising rents caused by holiday rentals, and environmental damage to historic neighbourhoods.

Majorca and Menorca follow, with 35%. They are currently discussing new measures to regulate the number of visitors and in May and July 2024, Majorca and Menorca saw significant public unrest as tens of thousands of residents took to the streets to protest overtourism and its effects.

Venice is next, with 26% of holidaymakers reluctant to visit. Recently the city has had to implement measures including a tourist tax for those visiting the historical center which came into effect on April 18. 

Amsterdam also appears on the list, with 25% hesitant to travel there. The Dutch capital has introduced measures to curb tourist numbers, especially targeting party tourism and short-term rentals and implemented a "stay away" campaign in 2023 targeting young men aged 18 to 35 from the UK. 

Garry Nelson, head of corporate affairs at InsureandGo, said: "Our research 12 months ago suggested that extreme heat and first-hand experiences of wildfires on holiday abroad had forced some people to consider cooler climates and alternative destinations for future holidays (44%).

"This new research suggests the protests could be having a far greater impact on shifting holidaymaker mindset – so, in some respects, economic sustainability issues are proving to be at least as influential in shaping holidaymaker choices as specific climate-related factors.

"Further, if the protests result in people switching holiday destinations, the prospect of a changing holiday map for Europe would also have economic consequences for those places whose local economies rely on tourism."