Second Homes Wholly Owned by Tourists

These are lodgings in addition to their main residence which they use for tourism purpose. They help maintain and sometimes boost the economic activities of different industrial sectors such as the handicrafts trade, security services, the retail trade, and the construction industry in rural, mountain and seaside areas which previously had poorly developed manufacturing industries. Furthermore, the purchase of second homes by foreigners brings in currency, which affects the balance of payments. Finally, the growth in the second homes in an area increases accommodation capacity, particularly if these are rented to other tourists when the owners are not using them.

Second Homes with Shared Collective Services

They are usually apartments in blocks which are serviced by a management company. These services include: maintenance of the apartments, laundry and linen hire, management of common equipment such as swimming pool, tennis courts and sports complexes and sometimes entertainment. Owners usually use the apartment themselves or put them in the hands of the management company for rental.

Timeshare

Timeshare can be defined as the purchase of a holiday accommodation divided into one- or two-week periods. Each period is sold separately. This system is very cost-effective as the cost is shared between several proprietors (up to 52) although the purchase value of the apartment is higher in peak season. There are many economic benefits in the timeshare industry as the system increases the utilisation of a property considerably and the management of timeshare blocks creates many permanent jobs.

Furnished Rented Accommodation

Furnished accommodation rented on a seasonal basis has become an important type of tourism lodging particularly in countries where ‘bed and breakfast’ is common, like the UK. This sector brings the advantage of elasticity to the tourism supply. Indeed, furnished rented accommodation (furnished apartments, guest houses and rural cottages) do not bear the high fixed costs of the hotel trade. They constitute complementary lodging in the high season and, more importantly, generate supplementary income for the local population.

Seasonally Rented Furnished Accommodation

These are self-catering apartments, studios and villas rented to tourists for periods ranging from one week to three months. The rapid growth of this sector has persuaded tour operators to develop new tourism products (transport + accommodation) at a lower cost than those using hotels. These products are better adapted to mass tourism.

Cottages and Farmhouse Accommodation

Rural cottages (or ‘gites’) divert tourism flows toward rural areas by providing new and inexpensive accommodation. They provide additional income for the population of rural communities and help to maintain country buildings.

Rural cottages and guest houses have seen rapid growth recently, particularly in France. The official body, the Federation Nationale des Gites Ruraux de France, deals in promoting this kind of tourism. These are rooms in guest houses for rent on a seasonal basis in a country setting.