Just some examples I pulled up in some quick searches. One specific to Cape Cod that I know of that’s not mentioned here is the damage to fragile beach environments due to trampling delicate beach grasses by tourists who either don’t know any better or don’t care. The beach grass there is easily killed by walking on it, which not only destroys the environment that many creatures depend on, but also leads to rapid destabilisation and erosion and full on loss of the beaches within a handful of years (5 to 10 at most). It’s such an issue that there are constant beach patrols of environmental officers across more than a hundred miles of beaches every summer.
Exploring the Impacts of Tourism on the Well-Being of Residents in Host Communities (2025)
Shows that tourism can improve residents’ well-being, community pride, and access to better services.
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/13/5849
Tourism Development and Its Socio-Economic Impact on Local Communities
Reviews evidence that tourism improves employment, diversifies income sources, and leads to infrastructure growth.
https://www.geojournal.net/uploads/archives/6-2-9-955.pdf
The Social and Economic Impacts of Tourism Development on Local Community Satisfaction (2019)
Finds residents perceive tourism as increasing economic opportunity and enhancing city services.
https://www.sciepub.com/JCD/abstract/10306
Challenges and Opportunities in Local Sustainable Tourism: A Systematic Review (2025)
Shows how community-based tourism preserves culture, empowers locals, and strengthens local economies.
https://posthumanism.co.uk/jp/article/view/636
https://invisiblepeople.tv/how-tourism-negatively-impacts-homelessness/
https://assets.moravian.edu/static/soar/proposals/2017/Keshodkar_LaBare_Proposal.pdf
https://www.flasprings.com/blog/drug-and-alcohol-addiction-in-tourism-hotspots/
https://wewantrelief.com/the-nexus-between-cape-cod-tourism-and-substance-abuse/
https://www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/envi/one.html
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9389488/
https://www.uni.lu/en/news/the-dark-side-of-tourism/
https://mize.tech/blog/the-true-impact-of-the-tourism-industry-on-the-environment/
Just some examples I pulled up in some quick searches. One specific to Cape Cod that I know of that’s not mentioned here is the damage to fragile beach environments due to trampling delicate beach grasses by tourists who either don’t know any better or don’t care. The beach grass there is easily killed by walking on it, which not only destroys the environment that many creatures depend on, but also leads to rapid destabilisation and erosion and full on loss of the beaches within a handful of years (5 to 10 at most). It’s such an issue that there are constant beach patrols of environmental officers across more than a hundred miles of beaches every summer.
None of this is actual research just yellow articles.
Here’s real research:
The Impact of Tourism on Local Communities: A Literature Review of Socio-Economic Factors Shows how tourism increases income, employment, and infrastructure in host communities. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373644263_The_Impact_of_Tourism_on_Local_Communities_A_Literature_Review_of_Socio-_Economic_Factors
Social Impacts of Tourism Perceived by Host Communities – A Review Paper (2021) Finds that tourism promotes cultural exchange, social cohesion, and improved public services. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357139679_Social_Impacts_of_Tourism_Perceived_by_Host_Communities_-_A_Review_Paper
The Economic and Social Impacts of Ecotourism on Local Employment and Income (2025) Case study showing ecotourism boosts jobs and income in rural areas while supporting sustainability. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1757780225000101
Tourism and Its Socio-Economic Impacts on Local Communities Demonstrates that tourism stimulates small businesses, improves infrastructure, and raises living standards. https://www.researchpublish.com/upload/book/Tourism and Its Socio-Economic-2434.pdf
The Role and Impact of Tourism on Local Economic Development Comparative study showing tourism contributes to GDP growth and helps reduce poverty. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287645318_The_role_and_impact_of_tourism_on_local_economic_development_A_comparative_study
Exploring the Impacts of Tourism on the Well-Being of Residents in Host Communities (2025) Shows that tourism can improve residents’ well-being, community pride, and access to better services. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/13/5849
Tourism Development and Its Socio-Economic Impact on Local Communities Reviews evidence that tourism improves employment, diversifies income sources, and leads to infrastructure growth. https://www.geojournal.net/uploads/archives/6-2-9-955.pdf
The Social and Economic Impacts of Tourism Development on Local Community Satisfaction (2019) Finds residents perceive tourism as increasing economic opportunity and enhancing city services. https://www.sciepub.com/JCD/abstract/10306
Challenges and Opportunities in Local Sustainable Tourism: A Systematic Review (2025) Shows how community-based tourism preserves culture, empowers locals, and strengthens local economies. https://posthumanism.co.uk/jp/article/view/636
Role of Tourism in Sustainable Development (Oxford Research Encyclopedia) Explains how sustainable tourism supports economic growth, poverty reduction, and environmental conservation. https://oxfordre.com/environmentalscience/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199389414.001.0001/acrefore-9780199389414-e-387
Let me know if you need more actual research or i can also produce some blogs and yellow journalism articles if research is too high brow for you.