TOURISMOS is an international, multi-disciplinary, refereed (peer ...

TOURISMOS: AN INTERNATIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF TOURISM
Volume 6, Number 1, Spring 2011, pp. 141-163
UDC: 338.48+640(050)
in resident populations induced by second home tourism. Managing
seasonality is a challenge for the whole tourism sector. Especially the
over- and underutilisation of services during certain periods, the huge
traffic congestion and water consumption during the peak season and
exclusively temporary employment are problems that need to be
managed. Additionally, the vacant second homes are at risk of burglary.
In second home tourism there is also the problem that the considerable
increase in the population during certain periods is usually neglected in
official population statistics.
Another management issue is the response of second home owners to
development, and how they can be included in planning decisions. For
national governments it is a challenge to manage the situation that
nowadays many people have multiple homes, and want to participate not
only in the development of their first residence. By establishing a local
association that enables the second home owner to act as a partner of the
local authorities in planning issues, the local government can comply with
this trend of multiple homes.
POLICY RESPONSES
As stated by Gallent et al. (2005), policies should attempt to absorb
the demand for second homes while at the same time directing that
demand away from those communities which are at risk from the
intrusions. This would be achieved by identifying sites suitable for
purpose-built second home developments and using development control
to discourage developments in unsuitable areas. Planning authorities
direct second homes into certain settlings where their impact is beneficial
rather than damaging. For example they can be used to assist the
preservation of historic or other properties which would otherwise fall
derelict or be neglected. Another policy option might be to promote
second home ownership in such a way as to maximise economic benefits,
whilst diverting demand away from existing housing stock.
Promoting economic and social development at the local and national
level is seen as the best long-term mechanism for bringing the housing
and employment chances of rural households into parity with their urban
counterparts. Because some locals fall into the “low income – low
wealth” consumption class, they may not be able to successfully compete
for market housing against more prosperous incomers; it follows that one
solution is to provide non-market alternatives. However this is often
difficult to realize because of insufficient funding and a lack of
commitment to a comprehensive rural housing programme. The
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