Comity or Conflict? A Qualitative Study on Host–Guest Relationship in Second Home Tourism

Abstract

Studies on second home tourism in Italy have focused mainly on statistical estimations of tourist flows in small destinations where the prevalence of second homes is suspected to account for a significant fraction of the destination's domiciles or a significant amount of tourism activity. These studies, however, have generally overlooked the character and magnitude of local social attitudes and their effects on this constantly growing form of leisure activity. The present study sought to advance the understanding of the level of social comity or conflict existing between second home owners and local residents in an Italian province. Using the long interview process documented by McCraken in 1988, data for the investigation were collected from both second home owners and permanent residents. The interaction between sociocultural and economic factors in the creation of comity and conflict were modeled and theoretical implications drawn for future empirical predictive second home tourism model building, and practical implications have been drawn for local strategic planning and policy development.