Endemic and Diverse: Planning Perspectives on Second-home Tourism’s Heterogeneous Impact on Swedish Housing Markets

Abstract

Second-home tourism's transformative power on local communities is widely recognized through numerous studies on its social, environmental and economic effects in many parts of the world. A significant share of this literature examines how second-home tourism impacts local housing markets and access to housing. However, few studies have looked into how planning authorities navigate these impacts of second-home tourism and how they differ spatially. Based on previous studies on the heterogeneity of second-home tourism and a comprehensive interview material from 20 Swedish municipalities, this paper examines impacts on local housing markets and the management efforts by local planning authorities. The results show how second-home tourism impact housing markets very differently depending on context when it comes to growth, housing demand and effects for locals' access to housing. The study argues for an acknowledgement of this heterogeneous geography and more context-aware secondhome research that moves beyond the rural-urban dichotomy.

The invisible hand of an invisible population: Dynamics and heterogeneity of second‐home housing markets

“…This might be due to higher building standards and larger primary residences, and the fact that properties are more adapted to permanent residence requirements compared to second homes (Figure 7). The demand for primary residences dominates the market in these locations, presumably due to pressure from the urban clusters nearby (Back, 2021; Lundgren, 1974).…”

“…Back and Marjavaara (2017) have applied the above framework to categorise the geography of second homes in Sweden. The results have then been further used to assess public planners' perceptions and understandings of the second-home situations in the different landscape types (Back, 2020b(Back, , 2021. In the following, the relationship between the respective demand for second homes and primary residences is analysed empirically for the four landscape types presented above.…”

“…Several impacts of this diverging development have previously been noted. Second homes can be an integrated or separate part of the housing market, depending on policies, spatial context, and distance from urban areas (Back, 2021;Barke, 2008;Gallent, 1997;Gallent et al, 2016;Lundgren, 1974;Müller & Marjavaara, 2012). In some localities, second-home tourism passes almost unnoticed (Back, 2020b(Back, , 2021.…”

“…Second homes can be an integrated or separate part of the housing market, depending on policies, spatial context, and distance from urban areas (Back, 2021;Barke, 2008;Gallent, 1997;Gallent et al, 2016;Lundgren, 1974;Müller & Marjavaara, 2012). In some localities, second-home tourism passes almost unnoticed (Back, 2020b(Back, , 2021. Müller (2004) has claimed that second homes can be a mark of economic decline and a lack of housing demand.…”

“…On the other hand, there are also numerous studies investigating whether second‐home tourism displaces or excludes local populations through inflated property values (Bourne, 2019; Gallent et al, 2003, 2004; Hoogendoorn & Marjavaara, 2018; Marjavaara, 2007, 2009). In contrast to this, Back (2021) argues that second‐home demand could boost housing markets enough to enable investments in primary homes, increasing the total supply of housing. Studies on the wider effects of second‐home tourism on the housing market are however more uncommon (Paris, 2009, 2014).…”