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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.

The COVID-19 pandemic and preventive measures have caused dramatic changes to all levels of the diversified and interconnected tourism sector. In this regard, second home tourism has experienced two extremes in general: some second home destinations have faced a significant decrease of visitors due to restrictions in the mobility of the population, thus becoming deserted “ghost towns”, while others have recorded a more frequent or even permanent presence of second home owners and users, who perceived their secondary dwellings as a “safe heaven” for escape from the crowded life in urban areas. Important changes can be observed also in the use of second homes during the pandemic, as many users took advantage of the possibility of remote working while staying in a pleasant environment and enjoying the tourism facilities with a greater degree of privacy. In this way, the pandemic contributed to blurring of borders between work and holiday life of many of second home owners and users. In 2011 Census, there were 15, 429 second homes registered on the Island of Krk, which can therefore be considered as one of the leading Croatian and international hot spots of second home demand. The spatial distribution of second homes is varied throughout the settlements of the island, while their concentration in the total housing stock is somewhat bigger than the number of dwellings for permanent residence. In this research, the authors identified changes in patterns of second home use and perception of second homes users on the Island of Krk during the pandemic. They have also focused on potential differences in the second home use between the year 2020, when responses to the pandemic were still in initial phase, and the year 2021, when possibility of vaccination and EU digital COVID certificates were introduced and the mobility of visitors has increased.

Management of protected areas is an interesting topic to compare between Croatia and Slovenia, as the two countries shared the same socio- economic context of development during the period of socialist Yugoslavia, a similar post- socialist transition, followed by EU accession. Although a similar management system for protected areas might to be expected, numerous differences have been identified between the two neighbouring countries. These differences can be seen in definitions of particular categories of protected areas, as well as in management systems. A centralised (top-down) approach in the management is found in Croatia, which is mostly characteristic for national and nature parks: two categories of protected areas with the highest tourism flow. On the other hand, a relatively decentralised management system (bottom-up) has been identified in Slovenia, which is primarily expressed in protected areas of lower categories of protection. These differences can be seen in varied integration of protected areas into the tourism supply, as well as in the forms and spatial implications of tourism in protected areas. One of the objectives of management of protected areas is the recognition of potential pressures resulting from intensive tourism valorisation, as well as prevention methods, therefore it is important to note differences in approaches in order to manage negative implications. In addition to comparison of management systems for protected areas of Croatia and Slovenia, the paper also elaborates proposals for spatial and managerial integration of protected areas located along the border, with the aim of creating cross- border protected areas. The research identified certain border areas between Croatia and Slovenia, which can, according to natural geographic homogeneity and conservation goals, form the basis for cross-border cooperation via nature protection in the future.

The study deals with theoretical and empirical aspects of the spatial distribution of tourism and the second home phenomenon in Croatia and Slovenia. The hypothesis assumed that the areas with the greatest concentration of tourism in Croatia and Slovenia and the areas with the highest representation of the second home phenomenon in the total housing stock, are one and the same. As previous research showed, developmental interrelationship of tourism and the second home phenomenon can take place according to three scenarios: a) the development of tourism encourages the second home phenomenon ; b) the second home phenomenon develops independently from the development of tourism ; and c) the second home phenomenon “discovers” some attractive location or area, after which tourism development follows. The authors analyzed the spatial distribution of tourism and the second home phenomenon on the national level and according to individual types of tourism/second home areas (littoral, urban, rural, mountain, spa) in both countries. The results of the correlation analysis show that the spatial development of tourism and second homes in Croatia is characterized by an intensive concentration of both types of leisure activities in the littoral areas of the country. On the other hand, in Slovenia the two phenomena are much more evenly represented in all types of tourism/second home areas.

Intense construction of second homes in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (hereafter referred as ex-Yugoslavia) started in 1960’s. Acquisition of second homes was affordable for wide range of ex-Yugoslav citizen population due to low prices of land and real estate, as well as favourable loan conditions from state owned banks. Motivation for ownership was different – spending family holidays, which was more affordable in comparison to hotel accommodation, and investment in real estates in period of unstable ex-Yugoslav economy, represented by high inflation rates and variable currency. Predominant type of second home units was family vacation house, usually built in self- managed construction. In the moment of disintegration of common state in (and after) the year 1991, countries were at considerably different stage of development. Wars that followed even deepened the national and regional differences, which can be observed also in different second home development in new independent states. Due to private building entrepreneurship, most popular second home areas were faced with a new type of secondary residences – multi-apartment recreational buildings, often used as commercialized accommodation capacities. In the same time, prices of second homes have increased ; therefore they became a privilege only for higher class. We can conclude that second home development pattern in ex-Yugoslav countries in the last 50 years has changed from affordable to exclusive phenomenon. From the mentioned context, the main goal of the paper arises: to compare the pattern of second home development in ex-Yugoslavia countries before and after the fall of common state. Apart from literature overview, interpretation of official available census data (1971-2011) on the national level will be given. Special emphasis on changing socio-economical context of the second home development in Croatia and Slovenia will be presented.

Intense emigration of Slovenes to Australia started after the World War One and reached climax in the 1950s and 1960s. According to appraisals of several Slovene emigrant organizations, the number of Slovenians settled in Australia in the 1980s must have been about 25.000 - 30.000. Despite the fact that Slovenians in Australia are the fourth largest non-European Slovene emigrant community (after the Slovene emigrant communities in the USA, Canada and Argentina), they have so far been subject to very few research studies.The present article is therefore a humble contribution to the research of Slovene emigration in Australia, which - considering the extent of its activities - would require several vast research studies. The few female authors having dealt with this community are Čebulj Sajko, Birsa, Mikačič and Mikola. The most numerous Slovene community in Australia is in the Federal State of Victoria; the there settled Slovene emigrants are organized in six ethnic associations, sharing a common religious center. The article discusses one of the major and first organizations of the Slovene emigration - the religious center of the Holy Brothers Ciril and Metod in Melbourne. It brings a survey of the most important turning points and events in its history.Soon after its establishment it surpassed the limits of a Catholic Franciscan "mission" and significantly contributed to the preservation of the Slovene community's ethnic identity. To this day it remains an integral part of Slovene emigrant life. Intenzivnejše izseljevanje Slovencev v Avstralijo se je začelo po prvi svetovni vojni, vrh pa je doseglo v petdesetih in šestdesetih letih prejšnjega stoletja. Po ocenah različnih izseljenskih organizacij naj bi se število v Avstraliji živečih Slovencev ob vrhuncu, to je v osemdesetih letih 20. stoletja, gibalo med 25.000 in 30.000. Kljub dejstvu, da so Slovenci v Avstraliji po številu četrta največja neevropska slovenska izseljenska skupnost za slovenskimi izseljenci v Združenih državah Amerike, Kanadi in Argentini, je ta ostala do današnjih dni relativno neraziskana. Ob obstoječih raziskavah avtoric Čebulj Sajkove, Birse, Mikačičeve in Mikole je pričujoče delo skromen prispevek k preučevanju slovenskih izseljencev v Avstraliji, katerih obširno delovanje bi bilo težko strniti tudi v več obširnih razprav in raziskav. Najštevilčnejša slovenska skupnost v Avstraliji se nahaja v Zvezni državi Viktorija; tamkajšnji slovenski izseljenci so organizirani v šestih etničnih društvih, povezuje pa jih tudi versko središče. V pričujočem prispevku je obravnavana ena med ključnimi organizacijami slovenskega organiziranega izseljenskega življenja - Slovensko versko središče svetih bratov Cirila in Metoda v Melbournu, ki je med prvimi in najpomembnejšimi organizacijami slovenskih izseljencev v Viktoriji in Avstraliji. Delovanje organizacije je strnjeno v pregledu prelomnih dogodkov in večjih mejnikov v njeni zgodovini. Predstavljena je organizacijska oblika, namenjena povezovanju slovenskih izseljencev, ki je že kmalu po svojem nastanku presegla okvire katoliškega frančiškanskega misijona in z delovanjem na verskem, kulturnem ter socialnem področju v veliki meri prispevala k ohranitvi narodne identitete imigrantske skupnosti v avstralskem bivalnem okolju. Uveljavila se je kot sestavni del organiziranega slovenskega izseljenskega življenja in to vlogo ji je uspelo zadržati do današnjih dni.