engleski

The COVID-19 pandemic and changes in the patterns of second-home use – the case of Island of Krk, Croatia

Changes in the use of second homes during the COVID-19 pandemic are an important topic of geographical research in the context of a new conceptualization of spatial and temporal transformation of work, leisure, tourism and multilocal living, the continuation of which is realistically expected after the pandemic (Hall et al., 2020 ; Lapointe, 2020 ; Müller, 2021). Although the pandemic has reduced the mobility of the population, the patterns of second-home use have taken on new characteristics particularly in the conditions of the pandemic. Among the most important motives for using the second home were the desire to escape from the city crowds to a safe haven (Zogal et al., 2020), the possibility of remote working or studying from a more pleasant environment during pandemic restrictions and the desire to spend vacations in commercial second homes, as well as tourism facilities with a greater degree of privacy. Changes in the patterns of second-home use have established of a new perception of the second homes among their holders and have furthermore contributed to the emergence of new relationships between second home users and local residents. The Island of Krk in Croatia represents one of the leading Croatian and foreign centres of second home demand (Opacic, 2008) and was chosen as an illustrative example for researching changes in the second-home use. According to the 2011 Census, there were 15, 429 second homes registered on the island, while their share in the total housing stock was 51%. It can therefore be assumed that changes in the patterns of second-home use importantly affect local island communities. The aim of the research is to identify changes in the patterns of second-home use and perception of second homes users on the Island of Krk during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the period before the outbreak of the coronavirus disease. The research is based on surveying second home users and interviewing key stakeholders of the local community.

second homes ; patterns of the second-home use ; COVID-19 pandemic ; the Island of Krk ; Croatia

Istraživanje je provedeno u okviru financijskih potpora istraživanja Sveučilišta u Zagrebu za 2021. i 2022. godinu „Prostorne implikacije turizma u zaštićenim područjima Hrvatske “ voditelja prof. dr. sc. Vuka Tvrtka Opačića.