Trade and Value Developments in the Danish Second-Home Sector: Implications for Tourism Policies

The 220,000 second homes in Denmark are very important tourism and leisure resources. This study documents the development in property values and the trade in second homes during the period 1994–2008 and links property values to socio-economic characteristics, events in the lives of the owners and geography. The study finds that ownership of second homes is still fairly well distributed socially, but that there is a clear trend towards the exclusion of those with lower incomes and of families with children. The average age of owners is rising. Second homes play a subtle role not only as holiday resources, but also in the combined housing economy and investment of Danish families. Indirectly, the developments in the trade and value of second homes have implications for future tourism policies. The continuous availability of privately owned second homes on the rental market is of immense importance for the attractiveness of the Danish tourism product in general, and for specific destinations in particular. Rising property prices in the years up to 2008 and a lack of incentives to upgrade the standard of these houses may compromise mainstream Danish tourism policies.