News & Events

1. What is the topic of your research and what made you choose Croatia as the place for your research?

My research aimed at analysing the tourism of cities in Croatia. My goal was to determine how concentrated visitors are within these popular locations and what information they receive for individual (unorganized) exploration of attractions. The selected cities were Zadar, Varaždin and Pula. My method was to analyse a database created from geolocalised photos uploaded to social photo-sharing portals, which I supplemented with an on-site survey.

I chose Croatia because it is a traditional place of mass tourism, but at the same time, there are huge differences within the country in terms of the utilisation of attractions.
 

2. What was your experience as an international researcher like?

I received all the help I could from my host institution, and we had professional consultations several times.

3. Take us back to your first days in Croatia. What were your first impressions, and was there anything that surprised you?

I started working on site in early May and was surprised by the low occupancy of the coastal locations and the related lack of services. This is understandable, but it also highlights how important it is for Croatia (and any other country or tourist destination) to mitigate the seasonal impact. On the other hand, I enjoyed it, as I arrived in a calm and quiet environment.

4. What did you enjoy most about living and conducting research in Croatia?

Almost everything: the view of the coast, the historic city centres (here I would like to highlight Varaždin – a special, but less popular location), the atmosphere, the gastronomy, and the interesting nature of professional work. 

5. Did you learn any Croatian during your stay? If so, did it help you in your everyday life or at work?

I learned basic words (greetings, numbers, etc.) for everyday communication rather than for work-related purposes.

6. How did your experience in Croatia influence you, both personally and professionally?

I would like to make use of my professional experience in Hungary and share it at international scientific forums. This experience has also made me more open-minded and independent.

7. What advice would you give to researchers who are considering coming to Croatia for a research stay or academic collaboration?

Don’t underestimate the heat.

8. Did your time in Croatia influence your future research plans or career aspirations? If so, how?

I will publish scientific studies and would like to return to do further research, as well as conduct similar research in other countries.