In what way can mass tourism lead to environmental degradation?

Mass tourism often results in environmental degradation primarily through pollution and resource depletion. When large numbers of tourists visit a particular destination, the demand for resources such as water, food, and energy tends to escalate. This can lead to overexploitation of local resources, which can strain ecosystems and result in habitat loss.

Additionally, the increased traffic from tourists can lead to pollution in various forms, including air and noise pollution from transportation and waste pollution from litter and sewage. These factors contribute to a decline in environmental quality, negatively impacting the natural settings that tourists seek to enjoy.

While options that suggest benefits such as promoting local biodiversity or attracting conservation efforts reflect positive aspects of tourism, they do not address the broader, more immediate impacts associated with mass tourism.