Do second home owners only play a secondary role in coastal territories? A case study in Charente-Maritime (France)
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to gain a better understanding of the role second home owners play within the dynamic of touristic coastal territories. Second homes play a major part in the growing economic and demographic pressures on coastal areas, primarily because of their number. In many cities, not only do second homes form an important part of the housing stock, but they are also significant form of touristic accommodation and contribute to the local economy. Second homes owners are a hybrid population: somewhere between inhabitants and tourists, they are an example of new arts of dwelling and the mobility in our modern societies. They are also a subject of considerable debate and controversy. We assume that, far from being “secondary”, this population takes a full part in their territories dynamics, especially in coastal and touristic zones. This research is based on a methodological reflection in order to launch a pioneering study about second homes owners’ habits in Charente-Maritime, the second most important tourist region in France in terms of visits. This chapter focus on the coastal territories studied in 2013.