Hotel tourism vs. second home tourism: analyzing the impacts on the destination's labor market

This paper analyzes the effects of the tourism model (hotel vs. second home) on the labor market from a local and regional perspective. The objective is first to determine the predominant tourism model of two destinations and second to make a comparative analysis of the characteristics of their labor markets. The two most important tourist destinations on the Costa Blanca (Benidorm and Torrevieja) based on sun, sea and sand tourism have been analyzed. A unique dataset from 2004 to 2024 was used. The main findings show a greater diversification of economic activities and less seasonality in the second residence destination, while the hotel-based destination has a more robust labor market and greater job opportunities for female employees. This has allowed the authors to offer new knowledge on how the tourism model adopted by the destination influences its labor market and to offer recommendations to policy makers.