Destination and place: social sustainability and social innovation in second-home tourism

Abstract

ABSTRACT Second homes are of great sociocultural importance in many countries, and their significance intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic when they acted as refuges in times of crisis. However, the growth and unsustainable impact of second-home tourism questions second-home tourism’s value for host communities and their residents, how it affects destination and place, and collaborative processes. After emphasizing economic and environmental aspects of sustainability in second-home tourism, attention is now directed to the inclusion of the social dimension in tourism and policies due to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This study investigated second-home tourism’s effects on a community and how social sustainability elements can drive innovation to fashion a destination and place for everyone involved, using the case of Øyer Municipality in Southeast Norway. By analyzing tourism strategy goals, political policies, and in-depth interviews, results revealed a gap between strategy goals and the informants’ perspectives, indicating that a lack of resident involvement in innovation processes and poor collaboration between stakeholders affect residents’ quality of life, visitor satisfaction, and destination development. However, economic aspirations and growth involved in second-home development continue to prevail.