Tourism often puts pressure on natural resources through over-consumption, often in places where resources are already scarce. 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.

By 2026, the primary issues with tourism sustainability have shifted from simple "littering" to the complex challenge of Carrying Capacity and Carbon Intensity. Many iconic destinations, like Venice and the Galapagos, are struggling with "overtourism," where the sheer volume of visitors degrades the local infrastructure and pushes out residents. Another major 2026 issue is "Greenwashing," where travel providers claim to be eco-friendly through minor actions (like not washing towels) while failing to address the massive carbon footprint of long-haul aviation. There is also a growing concern regarding Social Equity; in many "hotspots," the profits from tourism stay with international hotel chains rather than benefiting the local community, leading to "extractive" tourism. To combat this, 2026 has seen the rise of "Regenerative Tourism," which requires travelers to leave a place better than they found it, often through mandatory conservation fees or community-led "slow tourism" initiatives.