Environment total factor productivity (ETFP), an indicator of the quality of green tourism, represents the reduction of environmental impact and the maximization of tourism output. Based on the perspective of resources and environment constraints, this study explores the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics and the driving mechanism of tourism ETFP in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, with the aid of the combination method of EBM model and GML index, ESDA, and GWR. The conclusions are as follows: (1) Tourism ETFP in this region grows annually at an average rate of about 4.5% in the period of this research, declining gradually from the lower reaches to the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. In addition, tourism ETFP in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the three major regions (upper, middle and lower reaches) are basically driven by technological efficiency, technological progress or both of them interchangeably. (2) Tourism ETFP of the 11 provinces and cities in this region fall into three types: continuous improving, continuous deteriorating, and improving after deterioration. An increase of GML index coexists with a slight decline of technological progress in places with continuous improving tourism ETFP, whereas for places where tourism ETFP keeps deteriorating, the performance of green tourism is poor and the technological efficiency rate appears unsatisfactory. Meanwhile, driven by technological progress, a harmonious relationship has been established in places with tourism ETFP improved after deterioration. (3) Tourism ETFP of this region shows a strong positive spatial correlation, the hot and cold spots staggered, forming a changing pattern of “hot spots—sub-cold spots—sub-hot spots—cold spots” from the lower reaches to the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. (4) The impacts of tourism economy scale, tourism research level, tourism structure, environmental regulations, degree of openness and educational level on tourism ETFP in the region demonstrate spatial heterogeneity, based upon which a driving mechanism of “factor—path—effect—result” is constructed.