601 Tourism Analysis, Vol. 17, pp. 601–616 1083-5423/12 $60.00 + .00 Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3727/108354212X13485873913886 Copyright © 2012 Cognizant Comm. Corp. E-ISSN 1943-3999 www.cognizantcommunication.com Second-home ownerShip and place attachment: driverS of viSitation, word-of-mouth promotion, and hoSting BRUMBY McLEOD* AND JAMES A. BUSSER† *School of Business, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA †William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA This study examined the role of nonresident home owners in Costa Rica using a theoretical model based on a two-dimensional construct of place attachment. Place identity and place dependence were examined as drivers of visitation, word-of-mouth promotion, and hosting. The findings of this study support a two-dimensional place attachment construct and suggest that the place identity dimension is the primary driver of visitation and word-of-mouth promotion among current nonresident home owners. The study also revealed diminishing word-of-mouth promotion as visitation increased. The study introduces a new construct, hosting, and examines the role of visitation and word-of-mouth promotion on hosting visiting friends and relatives. The results and discussion provide important theoretical and managerial implications for tourism. Key words: Place identity; Place dependence; Visitation; Hosting; Word-of-mouth promotion Address correspondence to Brumby McLeod, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Business, College of Charleston, 5 Liberty Street, Room 326, Charleston, SC 29401, USA. Tel: 843-953-0735; E-mail: mcleodb@cofc.edu Introduction A number of destinations, from states to coun- tries, have embraced tourism as a strategy for eco- nomic development. The underlying premise is that visitors to a region of interest contribute capital to the host community by purchasing goods and ser- vices during their visit. The demand for these ser- vices creates jobs in the host community and tax revenue for the local government. Central America and the Caribbean are home to a number of countries that have embraced tourism as an eco- nomic development strategy. This is especially prevalent where the economic discrepancies between the potential visitor and host population exist (Beyers & Nelson, 2000; Gartner, 2004; Piga, 2003). Many of these rural communities and devel- oping countries are in an economic transition from extraction-based industries such as logging, min- ing, and agriculture to tourism (Go, 1988). For most tourists, lodging accommodations are the primary expenditure during a visit to a