Island so sought-after you need permission to holiday there

This island is the perfect spot for a sun-soaked getaway. But before you pack your bags, you’ll need to get written permission first.

There is a European island so sought-after tourists need to ask permission from the council three days in advance before being allowed to travel.

Lobos Island, a tiny islet in Spain’s Canary Islands, has introduced the new rules in a bid to limit numbers and protect it from saturation, The Sun reports.

Also know as Isla de Lobos, it is just a short boat ride from the better known holiday destination of Fuerteventura and used to be visited by thousands of sightseers every year.

Lobos island has become too popular with holiday-makers. Picture: TripAdvisor traveller

Now, the island’s council has decided to take tough action to stop it from being ruined and is enforcing a limit of no more than 400 people a day, divided into two lots of 200 maximum.

“The aim is to guarantee the preservation of this unique space and natural park,” a spokesman for the island said.

Lobos is less than five square kilometres and has only a handful of facilities but at one stage, became so fashionable that protest groups were counting as many as 2000 tourists on Saturdays and Sundays.

The island is part of the Canary Islands in Spain. Picture: Andy Mitchell

The tiny island is rich in marine biodiversity and endemic species of plants and birds but apart from that, campaigners say there is nothing for tourists to do except “picture opportunities” which are ruining it.

Fuerteventura’s leaders have started a trial period of asking would-be visitors to register in advance and have even been given timeslots to choose from.

There are fears it is being ruined by mass tourism. Picture: Andy Mitchell

Each visitor can only request permission for up to three people per day online and there are two timeslots of four hours each.

Anyone who tries to get on the island, which is only reached by boat, will be fined.

There will be officials on the island to check everyone’s tickets.

The new rules seek to cap the number of visitors. Picture: TripAdvisor traveller

The visitor limit for the two timeslots is 200 each and no more tickets will be sold for the days when this is reached.

The system is on trial until January 30th when it will be reviewed.

“Compliance with the regulations of the Master Plan for the Use and Management of Islote de Lobos requires this type of measure to combine the full enjoyment of the natural area with its correct preservation,” president of Fuerteventura council Marcial Morales said.

The island from the sky. Picture: Wikimedia Commons

The next step in the campaign is likely to be the introduction of a tourist tax with the money going towards conservation work, cleaning and monitoring of this natural space, although the fee has not yet been decided.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission