Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. This timely Research Agenda explores the crucial need to understand the social impact of tourism in order to manage industry growth sustainably. Highlighting the multifaceted nature of tourism, chapters uncover the intricate relationships between tourists and host communities and investigate this complex social fabric. Bringing together a diverse array of international perspectives and research approaches, it covers governance for sustainable tourism, resident attitudes towards tourism, the impact of local lodging on residents’ perceptions of tourism, and the social implications of COVID-19. Using an interdisciplinary lens, this Research Agenda advocates for the need to move beyond a positivist paradigm and to adapt current tourism strategy in order to create effective sustainable tourism practices. Contributors propose a new approach which emphasizes the significance of theoretical and methodological foundations in studying social impacts, aiming to capture the tourist and host community nexus in all its complexity and depth. This Research Agenda will be an essential resource for students, academics, and researchers specializing in tourism, urban planning, human geography, and sociology. It will also prove insightful for industry practitioners and policymakers seeking a comprehensive understanding of the social dynamics and implications of tourism, as well as those interested in addressing and mitigating the negative impacts of tourism.