Second Homes and Potential Impacts on Return Migration and Rural Tourism Development

The emergence of second homes in Portugal are strongly related to emigration (especially between 1960-1974) and out-migration (between 1960-1973) and the consequent depopulation of many rural areas where, apart from new housing construction, the emigrants’ and out-migrants’ first homes were frequently converted into second homes. These territories are still socially depressed, mainly due to the inability to create employment and income opportunities, as also attract and nurture the establishment of communities. In this case, culture can be a generator of important external economies of human capital and a catalyst for tourism development The tourism sector, too, under certain conditions, can be a driving force for economic activity in general. Therefore, the UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics (2020) states the strategic importance of the association of local populations in tourism activities. Thereby, this study suggests that those second homes can encourage return migration and rural tourism development in Portugal. How return migration will address rural culture and tourism development will also influence how visitor’s perceive local culture and hospitality in the places of origin of Portuguese emigrants. With this aim, 5,157 Portuguese emigrants were surveyed through the application of a questionnaire to assess the potential impact of their return on tourism development in Portugal. Results show that Portuguese emigrants of the working age and with a second home in a rural area consider that their participation in associations of Portuguese emigrants in the host country, has been a way of maintaining their culture of origin. If they had a job in the tourism sector, in Portugal, would like to control their own working hours so that they can have a rural lifestyle and reconcile with the practice of agriculture, mainly for self-consumption. While locals, their return can also strengthen rural culture and, consequently, develop rural tourism in Portugal. The financial benefits are similarly key variables that can encourage them to rent accommodation units in the second home of their family in the place of origin.