The growth and changing pattern of second homes in Spain in the 1970s

Despite Spain's importance as an international tourist destination, there are few studies of the related phenomenon of second‐home development. This paper examines the growth and changing spatial pattern of second homes at the national scale in the 1970s. Although the distribution is dominated by areas where tourism is a major activity, second homes have grown in provinces with very different economic bases. Some of the processes behind this wider distribution are explored. The spatial pattern at the scale of one province is then examined and it is clear that different processes are at work in different localities. Second homes in Spain present a growing dichotomy between indigenous, small‐scale developments and larger, more intrusive, highly capitalised schemes aimed principally at foreigners. These two types of development pose very different planning problems.