Tourism contributes more than 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with transportation, accommodation, food services, and recreational activities shaping destination-specific carbon footprints. This comparative research analyzes carbon emissions from five globally popular tourist destinations—Paris (France), Bali (Indonesia), Dubai (UAE), Bangkok (Thailand), and the Maldives. Primary parameters include transportation choices, energy consumption, hotel operations, local infrastructure, and waste generation. A hybrid methodology comprising life cycle assessment (LCA), emission factor analysis, and tourist behavior surveys (N = 2,300) was used. Results reveal Dubai and Maldives as the highest per-tourist emitters due to aviation dependence and energy-intensive infrastructure. Paris and Bangkok showed moderate footprints, while Bali displayed lower emissions but alarming rising trends. Recommendations include low-carbon tourism policies, renewable energy adoption, sustainable accommodations, and eco-certification frameworks.