Coastal and marine environments attract hundreds of millions of tourists every year, and in regions including the Mediterranean or the Caribbean, tourism is a mainstay of the economy. Given that a considerable share of tourism is ‘sun, sand, and sea’ focused, the sector is dependent on the integrity of coastal resources such as unpolluted beaches and waters. These resources are increasingly threatened: External and tourism-related pressures on coastal zones include land conversion and industrial developments, water pollution, loss of mangroves, introduction of invasive species, and overuse of resources (e.g., fresh water or marine species used as seafood and souvenirs). Climate change is exacerbating these problems through sea-level rise, changing rainfall patterns, or higher water temperatures linked to coral bleaching and algal blooms, all of which affect the viability of coastal tourism destinations. In this situation, the management of coastal ecosystems for tourism is paramount. Yet, even though a wide range of management tools is theoretically available, there is evidence that coastal governance is limited and hampered by economic interests and unequal power relations. Considerable political effort will be needed for tourism in coastal zones to become more sustainable and to adapt to on-going environmental change.