Permanent visitors: the impact of permanent migration to traditional tourist areas in the Lake Regions of rural Missouri

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] The environmental and economic impacts of tourism are often addressed, but there is considerable less research regarding the socio-economic impact and spatial distribution of permanent residents in long standing tourism regions. Development and growth driven by amenity based migration can often contribute to unbalanced economic development, which in turn can lead to the geographic stratification of residents. Utilizing data from the Census and real estate listings, this study will investigate the changing spatial patterns of socio-economic status and housing values in the increasing permanent populations of two similar tourism regions, the Lake of the Ozarks and Branson, Missouri. The findings will contribute to the growing understanding of how amenity based migration impacts tourist destinations and will add to theories of tourism-based rural development.