Impact of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic on the Slovak Economy (Tourism and Education)

Authors

  • Lucia Petrikovičová Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Regional Development, Faculty of Natual Sciences and Informatics, Constantine The Philosopher University in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 94901 Nitra, Slovakia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3200-794X
  • Jozef Petrikovič Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics, Constantine The Philosopher University in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 94901 Nitra, Slovakia
  • Viktoria Kurilenko Russian Language Department Medical Institute, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Miklukho-Maklaya 6, 117198 Moscow, Russia
  • Martin Taraj Department of Social Works, Faculty of Theology, Catholic University in Ružomberok, Hrabovská cesta 1A, 03401 Ružomberok, Slovakia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5548-1134
  • Saidmukhidin Kholov Translation and English Grammar Department, Khujand State University named after Gafurov, 7JFR+P6P, Gagarin Street, Khujand, Tajikistan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0637-230X
  • Mahmoud Azizi Department of English, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Mazandaran Province, 47416-13534 Babolsar, Iran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2023.2.468.483

Keywords:

COVID-19, economy, education, non-formal education, tourism, Slovakia

Abstract

Aim. The aim of the contribution is to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Slovak economy. We analyzed the pertinent data relating to Slovakia's economy, tourism, and education infrastructures, and also the measures introduced during the pandemic which affected them.

Methods. The paper is mainly based on descriptive, analytical and statistical methods, and based on global statistics data, studies, and research conducted in this field.

Results. In 2020, the Slovak economy decreased by 9.3%. The reason was not only domestic measures against the spread of the coronavirus, but also a slump in foreign demand. The growth of the Slovak economy had already slowed during 2019, even before the onset of the COVID-19 disease. Extensive travel restrictions, especially at the international level, fundamentally affected the total number of visitors, in particular during the period March to August 2021. Almost 1.6 million visitors stayed in hotels, boarding houses, and other accommodation facilities in Slovakia during this period of the pandemic, which represented a decrease of almost 54% when compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019.    

Conclusion. The significant deterioration of the economy was the result of a large number of significant restrictive measures taken to stop the spread of the COVID-19 disease. The factor of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the future of tourism and education, bringing changes to their direction and economic benefits. This pandemic has significantly affected education in Slovakia and worldwide, and we are following its transformation.

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Author Biographies

  • Lucia Petrikovičová, Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Regional Development, Faculty of Natual Sciences and Informatics, Constantine The Philosopher University in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 94901 Nitra, Slovakia

    The author deals with mapping and evaluation of landscape structure and its changes using historical maps and orthophoto images, application of remote sensing results and the use of GIS, the impact of tourism on the landscape, as well as a new form of tourism - religious geography. She presented the results of her scientific activity at international conferences and internships and they are published in proceedings, publications in the WOS and Scopus databases. She is part of scientific teams in solving several projects (VEGA, KEGA, APVV, H2020-SPOT project focusing on cultural tourism, etc.). The result of her project activity are several publication outputs, especially in the form of scientific articles published and presented at conferences abroad and in scientific journals. The research focused mainly on the landscape and its changes in the area with a dispersed type of settlement with regard to the historical landscape structure, and she is also focused on tourism and its impact on the landscape as well as the study of religious tourism. Part of her scientific research growth was the completion of several study and lecture stays in Poland, Germany, Czechia, China, etc. Thanks to which she established working relationships, the cooperation of which was also reflected in the solution of international projects and joint publications.

  • Jozef Petrikovič, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics, Constantine The Philosopher University in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 94901 Nitra, Slovakia

    The author is a Ph.D. student and focuses his dissertation and research on tourism in Slovakia. He also deals with the impact of Covid-19 on the hotel industry in Slovakia and in the world. 

  • Viktoria Kurilenko, Russian Language Department Medical Institute, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Miklukho-Maklaya 6, 117198 Moscow, Russia

    Kurilenko V. B., developed an integrative linguodidactic system, which was introduced into the system and process of professional-communicative training of foreign applicants, students, residents and postgraduate students of the Medical Institute of the RUDN University. In 2017 she defended her doctoral thesis on Methodology and methods of continuous professionally oriented teaching of the Russian language to foreign medical students, which describes the results that are currently used in the development of textbooks, educational and methodological and publications, advanced training and professional retraining courses for teachers of Russian language as foreign in the system of additional education of the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, or lectures for teachers of the Russian language at the faculty of advanced training for teachers of Russian language as foreign, as well as in the arrangement of methodological seminars and cultural and educational events in Mongolia, China, India, Vietnam, Finland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Peru, Argentina, Venezuela, Egypt, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, etc. Kurilenko V.B. is the author of more than 180 publications, including 7 monographs, the state educational standard for RFL and requirements (in co-authorship); 4 educational programs (one of which is in English), 6 textbooks, 32 methodological, educational, methodological and teaching aids, scientific articles, abstracts of reports and messages. Kurilenko V.B. regularly takes part in scientific congresses and symposia of Russian society of Russian language and literature teachers (ROPRYAL). such as Theory and practice of Russian studies in the world context (Moscow), Russian language, literature and culture at the turn of the century (Bratislava), Russian language in the modern socio-cultural situation (Voronezh), Russian language and literature in the space of world culture (Granada), including international congresses, scientific and scientific-practical conferences, seminars on ethnopedagogy. She is the member of Association of Language testers in Europe, the member of Peter’s the Great Academy of Sciences and Arts, the member of ROPRYAL, the chief editor of RUDN Journal of Pshycology and Pedagogics.

  • Martin Taraj, Department of Social Works, Faculty of Theology, Catholic University in Ružomberok, Hrabovská cesta 1A, 03401 Ružomberok, Slovakia

    After completing his Master's degree, continued his doctoral studies at the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic University in Ružomberok and defended his thesis with a focus on media, youth and evangelization. He is currently the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Theology for Mobility and Development and the Secretary of the Study Department at the Theological Institute in Spišské Podhradie. He is also a docent at the Faculty of Theology with a focus on theology.

  • Saidmukhidin Kholov, Translation and English Grammar Department, Khujand State University named after Gafurov, 7JFR+P6P, Gagarin Street, Khujand, Tajikistan

    More than 26 years of experience in the field of EFL and Translation. Proficiency in English, Russian and Persian languages and author of more than 15 publications in domestic and international journals, including textbooks for university students. English editor of Khujand University research journal in 2018. In 2008-2011 he was the Head of International Relations Office of Khujand University forging cooperation with many Universities worldwide. His research area deals with comparative linguistics, English and Tajik languages syntax and Translation.

  • Mahmoud Azizi, Department of English, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Mazandaran Province, 47416-13534 Babolsar, Iran

    Mahmoud Azizi got both his BA and MA from the University of Tehran and received his PhD from CUP in India. He has been teaching English language and literature at different Iranian universities for over 25 years. He is currently an academic staff member of the Faculty of Persian Literature and Foreign Languages and Director of the Office of International and Scientific Cooperation (OISC) at the State University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran. His research interests are Shakespearean Studies, 18th Century English literature, Romantic and Transcendental literature, and 20th-century drama.

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2023-09-28

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LOCAL CULTURES AND SOCIETIES

How to Cite

Petrikovičová, L., Petrikovič, J., Kurilenko, V., Taraj, M., Kholov, S., & Azizi, M. (2023). Impact of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic on the Slovak Economy (Tourism and Education) . Journal of Education Culture and Society, 14(2), 468-483. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2023.2.468.483

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