Background: Protected areas (PAs) serve as critical biodiversity reserves but are also major tourism destinations worldwide. Tourism generates revenue and employment but can simultaneously impose significant environmental stress, creating a persistent trade-off between economic gain and ecological integrity.

Objective: This study examines the nature of economic–environmental trade-offs in protected area tourism, evaluating revenue generation, visitor carrying capacity, ecosystem degradation, and policy mechanisms that balance tourism growth and conservation.

Methods: A multi-site comparative analysis was conducted using data from three protected areas: Sundarbans Reserve Forest (Bangladesh), Kaziranga National Park (India), and Manuel Antonio National Park (Costa Rica). Mixed-methods research incorporating visitor surveys (n = 320), interviews (n = 42), ecological assessment indicators, and financial records was performed. Regression models assessed relationships between visitation numbers, revenue, and ecological impact scores.

Results: All three PAs showed positive economic gains—tourism contributed between 28% and 44% of local income. However, ecological indicators (vegetation disturbance, wildlife stress, soil compaction, and waste accumulation) worsened at higher tourist volumes. Regression results demonstrated a strong positive correlation (r = .78) between visitor numbers and environmental degradation scores. Buffer zones with strong community co-management showed reduced ecological damage and improved revenue distribution.

Conclusion: Protected area tourism delivers essential economic benefits but compromises environmental health when unmanaged. Balanced strategies—such as visitor caps, differential pricing, community-based tourism, and reinvestment of tourism revenue into conservation—can mitigate trade-offs and enhance sustainability.