Original scientific paper

Population Changes on the Island of Krk

Marta Hamzić ; Ericsson Nikola Tesla d.d., Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

A region’s population is the result of various influences or characteristics
(such as natural or geographical, as well as socio-economic). In this paper,
a descriptive method is used to explain these influences in more detail. In
the natural and geographical category, the following features were
analysed: the shape of the island, distance of the settlement from the shore,
frequency of wind, and terrain. In the socio-economic category, the
availability of traffic routes and tourism were studied. Considering that tourism is the most important branch of economy on the island of Krk, a
correlation analysis was conducted as part of this paper. This was done by
observing the demographic variables, as well as the variables related to
tourism on Krk in the period between 1971 and 2011. The correlation
analysis was done by determining the Spearman’s Rank correlation
coefficient, which is included in the SPSS software, based on data from all
seven local government units on the island of Krk. Cartographic
representations in this paper were created with the help of ArcGIS
software. In the paper, it was established that natural and geographical
characteristics, which are key when forming settlements and the layout
thereof, are not the only contributing factor in their development. The
development and population changes on the island of Krk were heavily
influenced by the development of industry, traffic and tourism. By
improving ferry lines and connections, and especially by building the Krk
bridge, a previously isolated island became very well-connected with the
mainland and inland, as well as the surrounding islands. A good traffic
connection is the prerequisite for the development and expansion of
tourism. Currently, tourism is one of the main reasons for the increase of
migration toward the island, as well as the reason for the resettlement of
the local population to the (flat) coastal areas. The results of the correlation
analysis show that all of the observed variables are connected.

Keywords

population; geographical features; GIS; correlation analysis; the island of Krk

Hrčak ID:

249011

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/249011

Publication date:

17.12.2020.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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