Firstly, high tourism rates give rise to a densely populated island. Markedly, in comparison to the percentage increase of tourists annually (35% from 2013-1027), the growth expenditure per tourist remains somewhat low (16%). In other words, more and more tourists are coming into Mauritius, without contributing positively to the tourism industry.

In particular, Mauritius is seeing drastic increase in motorisation rates, energy, water and food waste (5281 tons annually) and, most gravely, plastic pollution. According to a recent study completed by Sustainable Island Mauritius the heaviest plastic pollution was found on the beaches in Mauritius, a tourist hot spot. This littering of plastic creates significant threats to both humans and the fauna and flora around the island. In particular, it is having a significant effect on the coral reef health. The plastic smothers the coral reefs which end up dying by diseases and debris caused from the pollution. Due to this contamination, together with climate change, 70 to 90% of reef-building corals are predicted to die in the near future.

Moreover, tourism triggers considerable construction of facilities; namely hotels, villas, restaurants, shops etc. The effect of this infrastructure mainly concerns the biodiversity on the island, which is slowly being eradicated. In particular, mangroves which once covered a large part of the Mauritian coastline, have drastically decreased, and several species in Mauritius are threatened. Without this biodiversity, Mauritius no longer has the processes to support life on the island.