Mouthbreating- I certainly wasn't saying people should be grateful for the tourists. But the comment that they bring nothing to the area simply isn't true. I am taking more about people with a second home who tend to come down lots of weekends and for long periods rather than tourists who come for a couple of weeks. The two are very different in my opinion.
I can see how tourists who only come for a couple of weeks once a year are thought of as not bringing anything and mean jobs for the locals are short lived.
However, in my parents second home someone is there most weekends from March to October and at Christmas. Someone is there for a week to two weeks every school holiday, longer in the. summer. A contribution of More than just spending in the pubs and restaurants is made. My parents use local tradespeople throughout the year, they pay council tax, even though it's not their permanent home.
The house they have was a shack and falling down when they bought it. They used local building companies to completely rebuild it and furnish it. They improved the environment by completing overhauling the house. Plus, I feel people with second homes probably bring redevelopment to areas with restaurants and businesses opening to supply the market. This brings wealth, business and jobs to the locals. For example, down the road from my parents home there is an abandoned hotel that has been crumbling for years. It is finally being redeveloped into a hotel, bringing jobs, redevelopment and such to the area. Plus, making it a nicer environment for all.