Scholars have long paid attention to tourism’s impacts. Yet despite the considerable extant body of knowledge relating to tourism’s economic, sociocultural, and environmental effects in numerous destinations, similar mistakes are repeated on a regular basis in localities throughout the world. A downside when it comes to tourism’s effects is that scholars and practitioners commonly take these for granted and rarely examine these critically in a holistic, systems-based approach. After first examining the history of tourism impacts, this paper discusses trends that have influenced this study area before suggesting further research directions. Especially, it highlights the importance of better comprehending how tourism’s effects are shaped by contingent socio-spatial, economic, and regulatory frameworks. Rather than continuing to uncritically laud sustainable tourism’s potential for overcoming the phenomenon’s negative effects, the paper argues for a perspective that focuses on tourism’s role in in overall sustainable development.