The study examined the motivations of the British buying a second home in France and more particularly in the “Cathar Country”. The research then focused on their economic impacts on the region, and their integration in the local community. Antagonism of the British second homeowners and the locals has been described in the previous research. Considering the traditional character of the region studied, it was expected that the relationships between temporary and secondary residents would be conflicting. In-depth interviews were conducted with British second homeowners as well as with permanent British residents. The research was completed by empirical research. The motivations to choose the French countryside are linked to stereotypes but also with deeper aspirations. Contrary to the hypothesis that was formulated the second homeowners have integrate with the local community without conflict, but only to some extent. Goujard (2000) notices that the second home phenomenon originated in the eighteenth century with British aristocrats. The first resorts were the French Riviera (Nice) and the Atlantic Coast (Biarritz) and the French Alps (Chamonix Mont Blanc). During the 20th century, the phenomenon spread to the middle classes, and over new French regions from Périgord to Luberon. Tourism was becoming a mass phenomenon so the appeal to the French countryside was spreading (Goujard, 2000).
[...] As seen in the motivations section, the British are usually attracted and appreciative of the French lifestyle, and they show interest in the local culture. The local community is “flattered” and thus more likely to accept them Differences in integration All the interviewees are willing to integrate in the local community contrary to those who form British ghettos in Dordogne and in Chamonix. If the desire to integrate leads all the interviewees it does not mean that there was no difference between them. [...]
[...] (2006) The attractiveness of second home areas in Sweden: a quantitative analysis. Current Issues in Tourism, Vol.9 335-350 WHITE, N.R. and WHITE, P.B. (2007) Home and away: tourists in a connected world. Annals of Tourism Research, Vol.34 88-104 YOUNG, C. et al. (2007) A taxonomy of hosts visiting friends and relatives. Annals of Tourism Research, Vol.34 497-516 Thesis GOUJARD, A. (2000), Résidences secondaires des étrangers et territoire français. Localisation et retombées économiques, la valorisation d'un capital symbolique. Thesis (PhD). Institut d'Urbanisme de Paris, Université Paris-Val-de-Marne Statistics & Government Studies ARNAUD, G. [...]
[...] Source: INSEE 3.2 Aims of the study Aim Find out who are the new British second homeowners Objective Find out their characteristics and motivation Objective Characterise their patterns of behaviour Aim Analyse the relationship between the British second homeowners and the locals Objective Analyse their integration in the social and economic framework of the region Objective Determine their impacts on the region Objective Understand potential frustrations or on the contrary, satisfaction felt by the locals Method 4.1 Participants 10 households were interviewed within the framework of this research. [...]
[...] Introduction Goujard (2000) notices that the second home phenomenon originated in the eighteenth century with British aristocrats. The first resorts were the French Riviera (Nice) and the Atlantic Coast (Biarritz) and the French Alps (Chamonix Mont Blanc). During the 20th century, the phenomenon spread to the middle classes, and over new French regions from Périgord to Luberon. Tourism was becoming a mass phenomenon so the appeal to the French countryside was spreading (Goujard, 2000). Nowadays, in the early twenty- first century, the phenomenon is still evolving given the development of the low cost air companies. [...]
[...] USA, Twentieth Century Fox Appendix the French departments Dordogne Chamonix Ariège Source : Le Quid Appendix Secondary residents interview summaries decision for pension combined with holiday longer, more reliable summers/France : home/ went there as tourists first favourite country, many visits in the Aude + friend's advice/ good location as tourists/country rather than city life to rent it (live in London in the UK)/house : ideal situation, reasonable price, garden Economic buy only French products/no buy "The Times" twice a week, otherwise only contributi British TV/whoever works French products/no British TV/French worker on quickly/often eat in restaurants : supports the local economy/ competitive prices/do not often eat in restaurants France castles and villages/enjoy wine DIY, eating, drinking, excursions to the and food/receive friends and sea, Cathar castles, abbeys and churches, relatives/ordinary Canal du Midi to other parts of France and Italy/receive friends and relatives/ordinary life but better as in the UK Integratio French helpful & consider themselves as temporary n friendly/sometimes do not want to inhabitants/permanent should be well be involved/feel integrated, with us integration is more integrated/inhabitants because it limited/ contacts evolved naturally : feels like home/French : as a plumber, mayor, grocer, butcher, immediate tourist because not permanently neighbours very welcoming despite being into holiday-makers rather than residents Opinion of interesting/French markets, France exceeded their expectations/French France drinking coffee with friends in a are courteous and friendly without being cafe/all countries have their bad effusive/helpful in business situations, flexibility), do not care about they spend Sundays in family leisure (dogs foul, no law or authority?), word to define France : civilised smoking and dogs allowed in restaurants/nice ambiance, people go out to enjoy a meal with wine, UK only drink/ one word to define France : national pride Relationsh do not miss anything : only in miss shredded wheat ip with UK France for a few weeks time Future do not want to move to France : do not want to move to France : friends and grandchildren relatives Interviewee 3 Interviewee 4 (married/58/college (married/56/semi-retired, lecturer) economist in a bank) since 1989 holidays in 1990 to spend holidays in France every year/1984 : France/travelled many times in France purchase of a house in le before/Aude was recommendation of a Var with sister/retirement, friend owning a house near Beziers sell the house/Le Var too (Herault)/village as contrast to London expensive/ not North because in the UK/peaceful village, large garden of the climate/2003 : 8 trips to the area before purchase/not in the countryside : previous experience in le Var, difficult transport, no shops buy "The Times" twice a buy French products, fresh produce seems week, buy "l'Independant" better in France/watch a little British (local newspaper)/do not TV but watch DVD's from England/very watch British TV/employed an lucky with a French plumber whose wife excellent French worker was a teacher of English, she put us in touch with other French workers 10 weeks a year/visiting the 10 weeks/walking, swimming, water sports surrounding countryside, on the river, visiting castles, skiing walking, Cathar castles, go and gardening/receive friends and the beach during summer, relatives/ordinary life/go to restaurants markets, restaurants, mainly with visitors decorating, try to avoid la Cite (tourist place), prefer the centre of town (where the locals go) Friends with immediate French consider us as tourist for the French neighbours (about 4 moment/feel so much home we decided not of them) close friends, to rent the house out/still struggling knows the family, talk about with language (Catalan dialect), we do them with real kindness, not find it easy to communicate but look out the house when we people in the village are very friendly are not there/a French and like to talk to us teacher who works with wife in London/no British friends/French consider us as tourists : am not one of them"/key to integration : speak French "they have to try" French people are kind, French people are very friendly, accepted nice, polite, outstanding, our language limitations/relaxed attitude chaos but it works, pace of of village life/France exceeded our life is slower/dislike of expectations/1 word to define France : Parisians/1 word to define different France : elan do not miss anything except Phone to England to check up on family, maybe cricket but can follow elderly parents and work commitments it on the radio/France met their expectations move to France after intend to retire in France, hope they retirement is a possibility will be able to integrate more fully when but may be too complicated, we spend more time there maybe more 6months/6months Appendix permanent residents interview summaries Interviewee 5 Interviewee 6 (married/61/company director) (married/54/psychotherap ist) 1990 Loved the 2000/investment for retirement/low cost travel region/Husband had a between UK and Carcassonne/tranquillity, village French pen friend from life in a strong community, few serious social school days who lived in problems, value for money/house : beautiful garden the region, prefer the with magnificent views countryside, was familiar to us/good location/already re-furbished house, affordable price buy British newspapers, buy French products "you would starve if you didn't" French products for the does not preclude the occasional roast beef and rest/often go to the Yorkshire pudding, and morning fry-up include brown restaurant/do not watch sauce. [...]
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