Tourism can cause the same forms of pollution as any other industry: air emissions, noise, solid waste and littering, releases of sewage, oil and chemicals, even architectural/visual pollution. heating, car use, etc.)

An "environmental" example in tourism—more commonly known as Ecotourism or Sustainable Tourism—is the strict visitor management at Praia do Sancho in Brazil. In 2026, this beach (often voted the world's best) is part of a Marine National Park where access is limited to a specific number of people per day to protect the fragile nesting sites of sea turtles and the clarity of the water. Visitors must pay an environmental preservation fee before entering, which directly funds the "rangers" who prevent littering and ensure no harmful chemicals enter the reef. Another example is the "Great Walks" system in New Zealand, where hikers must book their stays in mountain huts months in advance; this prevents "wild camping" which can lead to soil erosion and the destruction of native flora. These models represent the "tourism of the future," where the primary goal is to allow people to witness natural beauty without "chewing up" the very ecosystem they came to see, often through "pay-to-access" strategies that fund long-term conservation.