Tourism puts enormous stress on local land use, and can lead to soil erosion, increased pollution, natural habitat loss, and more pressure on endangered species.

While tourism is a vital economic engine, it can have devastating impacts if not managed sustainably. Environmentally, overtourism leads to the misuse of natural resources, such as water scarcity in regions like the Mediterranean, and the destruction of sensitive ecosystems like coral reefs through snorkeling and boating. A single transatlantic flight emits nearly half the CO2​ of an average person's yearly carbon footprint. Socially, the "touristification" of cities can drive up the cost of living, displacing local residents in favor of short-term rentals. This often leads to the loss of local culture, as traditional shops are replaced by souvenir stores. Additionally, waste management becomes a crisis in popular spots; for example, cruise ships in the Caribbean produce over 70,000 tons of waste annually. These cumulative effects—noise pollution, trampling of soil, and loss of biodiversity—can eventually destroy the very beauty that attracts visitors in the first place.