The aim of this thesis is to enhance understanding of the role and impact of temporary
populations in sparsely populated and peripheral areas by analysing second homes based on
patterns of dwelling use rather than dwelling type. Specifically, the thesis aims to (1) close the
gap in second home research on detached houses and alternative dwellings forms; (2) examine
whether and how second homes contribute to increased activity levels and the presence of
temporary populations in sparsely populated areas, within the context of multilocal living and
post–COVID-19 changes; (3) assess the economic impacts of second homes beyond the
tourism industry; and (4) investigate mobile second homes as an overlooked, semi-permanent
form of accommodation and explore their prevalence within the second-home tourism sector.
Through this approach, the thesis seeks to capture the actual scale, economic significance, and
development potential of second-home tourism in rural regions undergoing structural
transformation
