Second-home tourism and sustainable development

Second-home tourism is one of the most widespread forms of tourism in the world today. This course provides a broad overview of this form of tourism and its impact on local development from a variety of perspectives. After defining second-home tourism and exploring the historical roots of the phenomenon, the course will provide an overview of second-home tourism in different international geographical contexts. An important question is whether second homes are a curse or a blessing. This is assessed by discussing the variegated impacts and how they are addressed in planning. In this context second homes are looked upon from a sustainable development perspective, highlighting issues such as climate change and mobility as well. The course investigates the economic impacts of second-home tourism on the local economy and discusses the multiple relationships of second-home owners to local communities. Here, the topic of international second-home ownership is discussed as well. Finally, the course addresses issue of mobile second homes and other emerging topics. The course is targeting students, but also practitioners who want to deepen their knowledge of tourism, mobility and planning.