Andare in vacanza scambiando la casa. Un’analisi del profilo e delle motivazioni di un segmento crescente di turisti

Abstract

Contemporary societies have observed the expansion of alternative, non-institutionalized travel trends, which oppose mainstream tourism by providing consumers with a broader range of alternatives. Between alternative forms of tourism, very few studies have focused on home-exchange and this is in spite of its rapid growth, which has recently been observed even in countries where it has long remained a niche phenomenon. With this formula, tourists have the opportunity to organize custom tailored trips without seeking the services of travel mediators and with the only cost of the loan of their own home. This article presents the results of a survey on Italian house-swappers and discusses their socio-economic profile, motivations and lifestyles.