How Smart Is the Mobility of Croatian Citizens? Behaviour Patterns of Local Population as an Indicator of Tourist Destination Transportation Supply

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to analyse and determine the mobility patterns of Croatian citizens in order to evaluate the current momentum of transportation supply. The traffic behaviour and attitudes of the local population derive from the quality of the same traffic system that is the basis of the tourist (transportation) experience in urban destinations. Methodology -This research follows the methodology previously used by the European Commission in studying the opinions and behaviour of traffic participants in the EU -Special Eurobarometer 422a "Quality of transport" that also included respondents from Croatia. Data were gathered by the interview method, and the results are structured to this paper's specific context in order to better assess the mobility weaknesses and potential in Croatian urban tourist destinations. The sample of Croatian respondents is significantly larger (n=2834, in comparison with n=1084 in the 2014 EU study) and the findings are therefore better informed. Findings -The actual mobility patterns and related traffic system supply imply shortcomings in the mobility management of Croatian urban tourist destinations. In 2018 mobility patterns of Croatian respondents suggest underutilized mobility management options (e.g. lack of automobile usage restrictions, lack of available alternatives)both from the perspectives of destination accessibility and mobility. The average respondent's mobility pattern is far from ideal. Contribution -Identifying mobility patterns of Croatian citizens is the initial stage in determining the effect of transportation system supply (and management) on tourist travel patterns (to be further explored in the next stages of a scientific project). At the time of submission of this paper, there has been no new Eurobarometer on the topic of the quality of transport, since the 2014 survey so the contribution of this paper is in pinpointing the behaviour of Croatian citizensspecifically their daily mobility and longer travel patterns. By putting the identified mobility patterns in relation to perceived traffic system supply, this paper discusses the potential effects of current momentum in Croatian transportation system on tourist behaviour in urban destinations.

Transport Behaviour, Perceived Experience and Smart Technology Usage of Tourist Destination Visitors

“…The satisfaction is higher among men than women, among older respondents than younger ones, and among foreign tourists than domestic ones. Regarding the overall Croatian transport system, the dominance of road transport in everyday mobility and tourism-related travel is previously recorded (Mrnjavac & Slavić, 2018;, and significant improvements in air, water, and rail tourism-related transportation at the national level were suggested (Slavić & Mrnjavac, 2019).…”

“…to improve accessibility while avoiding the negatives of traffic (Battarraa & Mazzeo, 2021). Although some studies investigate the role of different mobility options in tourist destinations (Šoštarić, et al, 2014), only a small number of studies (Čolić, et al, 2022;Miletić, et al, 2017;Mrnjavac & Slavić, 2018;Slavić & Horvat, 2020;Slavić & Mrnjavac, 2019; focus on the behavioural aspects in the context of actual transport systems in Croatian cities.…”