Second Homes, Their Users And Relations To The Rural Space And The Resident Communities In Czechia

This chapter is a theoretical, methodological and empirical contribution to research on the specifics of second home tourism in Czechia, the impact on rural municipalities, the shaping of the regional identity and relations between second home users and resident communities. Traditional relations to nature and the boom in urbanisation processes were the major stimuli for the emergence of second homes in Czechia. In Czechia, the second home tradition has influenced many generations; some second home dwellers are more attached to the place of leisure activities than to their actual place of residence, even more than the autochthons. Fundamental processes in second home tourism in Czechia in the past two decades include a) the generational exchange of original owners, b) conversion to a permanent dwelling and c) various new forms approaching commercial tourism. All the processes have strongly affected rural areas and communities. Second home owners not only contribute to the formation of regional identity but also shape regional awareness and identity of regions and contribute to local rural development.