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Over the last decade, the dependence on fossil fuels and their prices has been increasingly discussed. This paper aimed to assess the development of fossil fuel prices and their relationship to GDP in the Czech Republic. To achieve this objective, a VAR model and Granger causality test were used. All fossil fuel prices peaked in 2022. The causal relationship with GDP in the Czech Republic was confirmed for natural gas and coal prices. On the other hand, the causal relationship between oil and GDP in the Czech Republic was not confirmed during the period under study. Weak correlations were found with the Covid-19 pandemic, inflation, and unemployment in the EU. The only exception is the correlation between coal and inflation in the EU, which was moderately strong. A limitation of the paper is the length of the period studied, with data collection taking place only once a month. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing spread of the Covid-19 pandemic is paralleled by increasing use of social media for general, positive or negative influences. A systematic review was attempted to evaluate the extent to which research has been done on the three categories of influence of social media and the nature of influence. A search of Google Scholar using the topic of the review itself as the search term, including abstracts also, yielded 32 papers, of which 30 were reviewed under the three categories. More than half of the selected papers were published on the negative influence of social media. Mis (dis) information dominated among the types of negative influences discussed. Many of the papers in all the three categories discussed a few factors related to the observed results. In the case of negative influence, suggestions were given to mitigate the negative influence. This research has implications policymaker and people/organisations responsible for running public health campaigns on social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work from home has become a part of everyday life for most of us. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become a necessity rather than a formerly desired benefit. An important part of this way of working is its effect on workers and how workers have handled this phenomenon of modern times. The objective of the paper was to find out how office workers perceived the transition to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper also examined whether office workers perceived higher productivity when working from home and whether they were able to separate private and work life. Data from a questionnaire survey distributed to 33 employees of a project office of the company T-Mobile Czech Republic a.s., who compared their experience with working from home before the pandemic and during the lockdown. The data obtained were then evaluated on the basis of relative frequency. The results show that employees were more productive when working from home, both before the pandemic and during the lockdown. At the same time, most employees did not have problems separating private and work life, unlike working parents, who reported problems related to online education during the lockdown. These findings represent certain benefit for HR departments, who can, based on these findings, decide on the length of working from home. The findings also form a basis for considering how to help employees to adapt to this newly emerged trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the paper was to analyse the 2017-2022 time period using chronologically ordered time series with information on wheat and rapeseed prices. To assess the price development in the period under study, possible trends and seasonality. Furthermore, to confirm or refute dependence of agricultural commodity prices on the COVID-19 pandemic using correlation method. Three research questions were formulated and answered through these scientific methods. Descriptive analysis was used to process the chronologically ordered time series, graphs were used for visualization. Statistical indicators for mathematical expression such as mean, median, minimum and maximum were identified. In order to determine trend or seasonality, a trend line was plotted on graphs showing no statistically significant indicator which would confirm this. Correlation analysis showed low linear dependence between commodity prices and extreme events such as COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors of the paper present research findings focused on the role of parents when supporting their own children during distance education (ERE). It is part of a problematic and one of the research tasks addressed in VEGA project No. 1/0550/22. The aforementioned starting points, as well as the discourse of foreign researches, led the authors of the paper to study the opinions and experiences of parents and their help and support when educating pupils during distance education in the time of the COVID 19 pandemic. The paper presents only one part of a large-scale research study with a package of research and statistical methods (analyses, on-line questionnaires, structured individual interviews, the method of Focus Groups, quasi-experiments, the SPSS program package version 2.0) and more. A total of 407 parents participated in the presented part of the research. The research results show that the parents of lower secondary education (ISCED 2) students [AM 2.1] and the parents of upper secondary education (ISCED 3) students [AM 2.3] were not entirely satisfied with the overall course of distance education (ERE) and its organisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of business risk in times of recession or growth is very topical in these times. The Czech Republic and its neighboring countries are currently struggling with the economic problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim of the paper is to analyze the number of insolvency petitions in the Czech Republic from the years 2010-2020 and to compare them with each other. The data source are data from publicly available resources from the Creditreform group and also from the CRIF database of the Cribis platform. First were created tables for the Agriculture and Forestry, Manufacturing, Construction and Transport sectors. Data for the relevant years were added to them from the aforementioned resources. Then was created a line chart for each industry. Using time series analysis and comparison, we analyze and compare the development of insolvencies. At the same time, we use causal analysis to find out why there were high numbers of insolvencies in the given years. We are also looking at which sectors were hit hardest during the insolvency crisis, when they were hit hardest, how they did in times of economic growth and how they should adapt to the next possible crisis. During the Great Recession, the construction sector was hit the hardest, and then the transport sector also suffered greatly. The largest numbers of insolvencies can be observed in 2012. At a time of economic growth, which began in 2014, the numbers of insolvencies fell in all sectors analyzed, but mostly in agriculture and forestry and transport. Businesses in the sectors analyzed can adapt to the next crisis by creating larger cash reserves or changing, for example, crop production or transport by temporarily reducing fares to attract new customers. We see the benefit of this work in the analysis of the number of insolvencies in the given sectors, which has not been recorded in almost any academic papers. We also see a benefit in determining the conditions for how companies can prevent another crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the transformative effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development and implementation of advanced technologies in the Czech Republic's assisted retail sector. The pandemic accelerated digital transformation across industries, and retail was no exception. The enforced changes in shopping habits and safety measures have led to a surge in the demand for technology-driven solutions in retail, pushing businesses towards innovation to ensure continuity and resilience. The paper analyzes both qualitative and quantitative data gathered from various assisted retail businesses in the Czech Republic. The research employs a mixed-method approach, incorporating case studies, surveys, and statistical analysis to provide comprehensive insights into the swift technological transformations. The findings indicate a significant increase in the adoption of technologies such as contactless payments, augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) in retail operations. It further reveals the increased use of e-commerce platforms, digital marketing strategies, and mobile applications to promote contactless shopping. A notable aspect of the study is the rise of voice-assisted shopping, demonstrating a technological shift towards more personalized and efficient customer service. The implications of these findings suggest that the pandemic-induced circumstances have revolutionized retail technology in the Czech Republic. It also hints at the potential for other industries to learn from the strategies deployed in this sector. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for further research to assess the sustainability and long-term impact of these new technologies post-pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the pandemic situation, the online form of education has become widespread in all its spheres. The education of seniors, which is provided, among others, at universities of the third age, has been no exception. Prior to the global pandemic, universities of the third age mainly provided full-time education. However, the new situation has brought new challenges. Third Age Universities have either decided to provide online education or have temporarily ceased their activities. In this paper, we focus on online education during the pandemic at a particular third age university. Based on the results of a questionnaire survey, we present the experiences of seniors with online learning, specifically, identifying the advantages of online education for seniors and the disadvantages of this form of education for this target group. To achieve these objectives, a quantitative research survey was conducted among seniors who participated in online learning at the University of the Third Age in question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to map the price development of selected metal commodities - gold and silver from 1 January 2015 to 1 January 2023, to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on their price development and whether there is a linear relationship between the prices of these commodities. The validity of the correlation between the prices of gold and silver was examined using correlation analysis. Granger causality confirmed a statistically significant relationship between past gold and silver prices, indicating their mutual predictive value for future prices. The price data was obtained by content analysis and evaluated by graphical analysis. During the period under review, the price of both commodities increased, and the curves of both commodities followed a similar pattern. The gold price evolved from the original value of CZK 877.19/g to the price quoted on 1 January 2023, which was CZK 1,327/g. The price of silver also saw a price development, from CZK 11.64/g to CZK 17.43/g. From an investment point of view, the COVID-19 pandemic had a positive effect on both commodities, as prices increased significantly, especially for gold, which can serve as an investment metal in times of economic crises. The biggest limitation of the work were events such as the COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, which influenced the price development of both commodities and thus could have affected the results of the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehensive education system in 2020 was significantly limited at all levels by the global pandemic of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Universities modified the organization of teaching and transformed study into cyberspace, so teaching could continue in a distance form using e-learning, webinars, or other digital education tools. The paper focuses on the issue of university education during the first wave of the pandemic and has the character of a theoretical-empirical study. The first part presents the basic theoretical background of the researched issue from the perspective of various authorial approaches. The key is the empirical part, in which the results of research conducted among students are interpreted to find out their experiences, attitudes and preferences in the context of online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research involved 730 respondents from sixteen Slovak universities. In conclusion, the author appeals to the importance of digital and media literacy so online teaching can be considered an effective and equivalent tool to the full-time form of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to analyze how Czech car manufacturers have coped with the COVID-19 pandemic. Included are data on manufacturing companies taken from the Cribis database of the CRIF - Czech Credit Bureau a.s., specifically data on ŠKODA AUTO a.s., Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech s.r.o. and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Czech Republic s.r.o. Subsequently, the research comprises economic results, ROS (return on sales) and indebtedness calculated in relation to the aforementioned companies for the period of 2019-2020. The results show that the car manufacturers had greater losses during the COVID-19 pandemic than the year before. Additionally, they became more indebted in 2020 and had lower return on sales than in 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses mainly on the advantages and disadvantages of this way of working, as well as its impact on the psyche and performance of employees and, last but not least, its impact on a company's finances. It uses the synthesis of data found on the internet, from selected reliable sources dealing with the same or similar issues. From these sources it is evident that the effects of working from home are rather negative. The most frequently mentioned advantage is the saving of time, caused mainly by the absence of commuting to the office. The most frequently mentioned disadvantage is the absence of personal contact with co-workers. The disadvantage that a company could feel the most is the extension of the length of communication between employees, and thus the extension of work processes. At first glance, it might seem that a company will save money using this form of work, but the reality is that the company's costs may even increase. This is due to the fact that most companies have chosen to work from home only partly, so the costs of running the offices remain the same or slightly reduced at best, and legislation states that the company must reimburse workers for costs incurred by this form of work. It follows from this contribution that, if possible, workers and employers should avoid the practice of working from home, even though it has a positive effect on the pandemic. The potential for further research could be to compare the results of this work with the same research conducted outside of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text focuses on the issue of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the authors focus on capturing, describing and interpreting the perception of online learning through the online tools MS Teams and LMS Moodle. The paper is based on data obtained from a research survey based on a quantitative approach. A self-designed questionnaire was chosen as the data collection tool. The questionnaire survey was conducted electronically among university students in pedagogical fields in the period from November 2020 to March 2021. In total, the authors analysed data from 462 questionnaires received. Not only the basic descriptive results but also the statistical significance of the relationships between the selected variables were evaluated, using adequate parametric and non-parametric tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the behavior of investors in times of economic crises when investing in the S&P 500 Index, gold and the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. The results of the descriptive analysis show that the decision-making of investors in times of economic crises is reflected in the development of the S&P 500 Index by a decrease in average annual prices, the opposite is the case with gold, where there is a significant increase in the market price in times of crisis. This means that investors in crisis situations consider gold to protect their capital. An analysis of the tightness of the relationship between the S&P 500 Index and the price of gold based on monthly data by Pearson correlation confirmed a moderate inverse relationship. The cryptocurrency Bitcoin has seen a massive increase in market value during the Covid-19 pandemic due to the shift of business to the online world. As in the case of gold, from the perspective of investors, this cryptocurrency was seen as a way of protecting their investments and, in addition, the possibility of maintaining solvency even in a period of restrictions. Bitcoin and other virtual financial instruments seem to be a suitable alternative to gold investments in the 21st century during the crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and trends of the 21st century have significantly influenced marketing and marketing communications of companies. Both marketing and marketing communications are undergoing significant changes, especially depending on the overall development of the economy, market and consumer and the changing strategic goals of companies. Successful companies must adapt to the market, clearly formulate their goals and visions for the future, approach brand building through innovation, imaginative and effective communication, find a way to differentiate them from the competition, ie seek the uniqueness of the offer. These approaches are called "Radical Marketing" or "Reengineering". As a result of the above changes and shifts, we are encountering new trends in 21st century marketing communications, which are also changing consumer behavior and vice versa. Consumer behavior and decision-making is greatly influenced by modern forms of marketing communications. In 2020 came COVID-19 and the global pandemic. The global economy, businesses, the market and the consumer have found themselves in a whole new reality. The reality that has come is and will be. The following months and years will show how reversible or irreversible the current situation is. The aim of the paper is a comprehensive view of current strategies of companies and consumer behavior, the definition of their key changes caused by COVID-19 and outlines the current form of marketing communications and its tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The onset of a COVID 19 pandemic has created a general need for appropriate crisis management. The aim of our paper is to compare the degree of crisis management competencies in three different types of organizations - businesses, health care organizations and self-government organizations. Degree of crisis management competencies was determined by the following factors - quality of crisis communication, the leadership style, the quality of decision-making in times of crisis, team performance and teamwork and the information sharing. The highest level of crisis management competencies was achieved by crisis management in business, which we proved on a sample of 122 companies. The leadership is weakest link of crisis management in all the organizations surveyed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a situation where the coronavirus pandemic has caused a number of sociopolitical-economic challenges around the world. It has been changing the values of all entities from the largest to the smallest since its outbreak. Nowadays, we need to create the conditions for a sustainable coexistence of man and nature more than ever, incorporating waste management further within the circular economy. In this scientific paper, we focus on measuring indicators of circular economy set up by the EU to analyze the development, compare the V4 countries, and find new solutions. Only continuous monitoring can contribute to the transition of the existing linear market economy system to its greater efficiency and sustainability throughout the value chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the article is to define the key motives of non-profit organizations for cooperation with companies on socially responsible issues. The case study was conducted in two interrelated parts. Namely, using qualitative interviews with nonprofit organizations operating in the Czech Republic. Subsequently, focus groups were applied for a deeper analysis and evaluation of the attitudes of experts on the issue. The findings suggest that NGOs focus on the needs of local communities which is a key element for possible cooperation with companies that are also seeking to serve these areas. Another key point for collaboration is the desire of both NPOs and companies to address the issues of the community in which the organization is located, to this end companies are willing to sponsor NPOs to help them address these issues. This study fills a gap in the literature on collaboration between the nonprofit and forprofit sectors on socially responsible issues by applying the concept of integrative and community relations in the context of locally owned businesses and community-based nonprofit organizations, which distinguishes this study from the usually studied issue of multinational organizations and their collaboration with the nonprofit sector. The findings from this study offer key points for the leadership of community-based nonprofit organizations interested in establishing relationships with local businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to map the situation of online education in the Czech Republic and compare it with the European one. The research was conducted based on data provided by the Czech Statistical Office and Eurostat. The evaluated data were subsequently compared with findings from the literature search. The findings show that the usage of online courses is 20,8% more than the average in the EU27. And the use of online education materials in the Czech Republic, like the EU27. Online learning is still evolving, it has issues due to the lack of experience, but the potential is growing over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the article is to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the competitiveness of the labour market in Hungary on the economically most developed central as well as the rural areas to illustrate discrepancy. Indicators related to the effectiveness of recovery regarding both human resource management and corporate management are also analysed. A questionnaire survey on recovery from the pandemic was filled in 2021 by 1184 company managers: 61% were received from the central region while 39% from rural areas. The crosstab analysis was applied while processing data. According to our findings, the backlog has decreased in six Hungarian regions except Western Transdanubia, which has been hit harder by the closures and restrictions. The more moderate development of the central region can be due to the presence of its companies on the global market while the catching up of the rural areas was aided by the wage subsidy of businesses operating there. It is worth examining the impact of economic crises on how the differences between the central and rural regions change and also which regions can benefit from the downturn. In conclusion, a crisis might also serve as an opportunity to achieve a balanced economy and regain competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the cross border rural areas located in the suburban zone of big agglomerations in border regions of Hungary and Slovakia and analyses their regional development possibilities via INTERREG HU SK new programme period projects. Special attention is devoted to demographic processes and phenomena related to these facts pandemic caused. Besides generally acceptable statistical data represents other data collected via field research in communities representing cross-border project expectation survey. It focuses on socio-economic effects of cross-border, analyses its impact on society of suburban inhabitants in Slovakia. There is a comparison between cross-border survey about the rural life standards before and after 2020 to predict current trends influenced by pandemic Added value can be the results of measuring gap in economic and demographic development in the cross-border regions mainly between Hungary and Slovakia after COVID-19 pandemic in the era of new programme period of the EU 2021-2027 with wide potential of INTERREG HU SK cross-border project developments through innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalization presents a driving force for many organizations regarding the dynamic changes and requirement of a new way of thinking and achieving higher performance, improving quality, safety, and profitability. Digital transformation has become a prevalent project in many industries, nevertheless often failure due to inhibit organizational cultures preventing change. Empirical review of the digital organizational cultures' effectiveness identifies cultural traits that are crucial for the digital transformation process. Understanding the digital organizational culture is important for leaders to react to changing environments, especially amplified by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The purpose of the study is to assess the culture of organizations and track the progress of digitalization using the Denison organizational culture model. The survey was conducted in October 2022. The sample comprised over 400 respondents. Statistical analysis is performed with MAXQDA software, where the statistical relationship between the variables of interest was explored. Convergent validity was evaluated using Person's correlation analysis. A psychometric evaluation is acceptable and correlation confirms the statement that each trait strongly correlates with two other traits, but less with the incompatible trait. The correlation between particular traits and their subdimensions indicates the convergent and divergent validity of the items. The findings have revealed a significant connection between Adaptability and Customer Experience and Mission and Digital Strategy. These traits highly affect the digital evolution within an organization. Findings reveal that the organizational culture is crucial to a successful digital transformation and needs to be given sufficient attention. In conclusion, this study indicates that organizational culture appears to be a force that boosts digital progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the work was to apply short-term educational activities to primary school pupils and to find out their influence on pupils' attitudes, compared to the traditional way of teaching. We observed differences between the cumulative mean scores of girls (x = 2,1) and boys (x = 2,4). We showed no difference in the cumulative mean scores of 7th and 8th graders. The pre-test data were at the level of statistical significance (p = 0,0521), with the experimental group (E) performing worse on mean score (x = 2,61) than the control group (K) (x = 2,31). The values correlated with the end-of-year grade in the biology and chemistry subjects. A paired t test revealed a statistically significant difference in the experimental group between the cumulative means of the pre-test and post-test (p = 0,0419) and the pre-test and retention test (p = 0,0354). A statistically significant difference was also observed in the individual dimensions (separation, recycling and production). In the control group, there was no statistically significant difference between the individual tests and dimensions. We have demonstrated the effective use of inquiry-based learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the online education of subjects with an economic focus during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the opinions and experiences of university students in the Slovak Republic. The data were collected using a questionnaire, while the research sample consisted of 358 respondents. Data analysis was performed using the Friedman test, the Nemenyi post-hoc test and the Mann-Whitney test. Students consider safety for health to be the biggest advantage and the biggest disadvantage is the lack of development of interpersonal relationships. The necessary technical equipment to implement online education is not a problem for them. We also found some differences in responses based on gender, degree of study and study results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the employee productivity experience of the business managers from CEE countries with the worldwide home-office phenomenon in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative method with an exploratory approach is used, especially a phenomenological design was adopted for this study. Through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the specific experience of managers was examined and subsequently an effort was made to understand the situation. Findings explain that working from home has provided advantages and disadvantages for organizations as an essential part of sustainable human resource management. The interviews showed that it is possible to manage and evaluate employees according to their performance, not according to attendance at the workplace, and that their productivity has not declined significantly. However, this current situation offers a unique vision of the pros and cons of working from home and may play a vital role in future strategies that will reshape the existing structure of working hours, possibly allowing for more flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the cross border rural areas located in the suburban zone of big agglomerations in border regions of Hungary and Slovakia. Special attention is devoted to demographic processes and phenomena related to these facts. Besides generally acceptable statistical data represents other data collected via field research in communities representing suburban survey. It focuses on socio-economic effects of suburbanisation, analyses its impact on society of suburban inhabitants in Slovakia. There is a comparison between cross-border survey about the suburbanized rural life standards before and after 2020 to predict current trends influenced by pandemic Added value is the results of measuring gap in economic and demographic development in the cross-border regions mainly between Hungary and Slovakia during COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks analysing Twitter social network role in promoting positive behaviour during COVID-19 crisis and exploring the relationship between them. It targets identifying Twitter positive behaviour level differences through variables of gender, age, marital status, residence status, administrative region, and Twitter using size. An online questionnaire was used on a validity-and-stability verified sample of (586) individual Twitter users in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Sample members approved Twitter users' positive behaviour during COVID-19 crisis. They agreed that the positive behaviour level was medium with a Twitter effect of (19.4%). There were both a positive, medium-strong correlation between Twitter daily use and a statistically significant correlation between one - session Twitter using and positive behaviour promotion. However, there were statistically significant differences in positive behaviour promotion when using Twitter between social status favouring singles, residence status favouring residents, age favouring those under 21, administrative region favouring the southern region, usage period favouring network daily and two days - users, and browsing time favouring much Twitter users. The study recommends conducting studies on positive social behaviour and its dimensions to broadly generalise results. Studies on the Internet of behaviour and artificial intelligence are needed to analyse the positive behaviour expected by social networks users to enhance opportunities. It also stressed children and adolescents' digital social education to prepare community members for effective online participation, the activation of public and private services-providing agencies Twitter accounts, interacting positively with users' questions and responses, and substituting fixed stereotypes by interesting interactive patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of second chance education (SCE) analysis during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia was carried out by the research indicators: 1) organisation, 2) technology, 3) communication, 4) attitudes - emotions - assessment; on two levels of interaction: 1) teacher - student, 2) teacher - teacher (school), using an online questionnaire (135 participants - teachers), in location: 1) developed districts (DD), 2) underdeveloped districts (UDD). The effectiveness of education was significantly higher at schools in DD in comparison to UDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, we have eagerly been seizing the opportunity of online shopping. Buying goods via the internet is much more comfortable than hours wasted roaming through the shopping centre. After the economic crisis triggered by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the online world penetrated all spheres of our lives. The presented article explores functions and services to keep customers satisfied and loyal. The methods involved a questionnaire evaluated by correlation analysis, revealing more demanding requirements imposed on e-shops to make the web more credible. Further research should focus on expanding the data portfolio and comparing acquired data with previous results and findings from online traders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the changes in summer holiday plans of the Czechs in 2020 as well as their preferences concerning summer holiday destinations and accommodation as a reaction to the first set of tough restrictions adopted by the Czech government during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. The survey included a random sample of 637 respondents. The findings show the shift towards domestic tourism and might be helpful for destination management, accommodation facilities owners, as well as for researchers examining the impact of the coronavirus crisis on consumer decisions in the hospitality and tourism industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the present study is determined by the importance of mythologization in modern global processes the formation of a multipolar world presents an example of. Each of the forming "poles" requires a mythological basis comprising and establishing its specific historical mission and worldview uniqueness. The deployment of previous narratives and the creation of new ones spreading in the media space and applying for mythological quality presents an important argument in favor of the "pole". The axiological approach to the study of myths in modern media involves referring to value analysis as a method of studying journalism. The study is based on the world-systems methodology that includes cross-cultural analysis. A study of relevant political mythology is carried out on the example of media coverage of the help provided by Russia to Italy in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. To obtain empirical data, the procedure of content analysis of media texts was used. The analysis of the state of media was performed on the empirical basis of materials provided by the InoSMI information and analytical portal and other leading Russian media. The following points are substantiated in the article: mythogenesis occurs in current political practice that can result in two mutually exclusive outcomes: further development of the myth of European solidarity, the cultural and historical community - the continuation of the historical myth, or its destruction - the realization of the operational myth. The analyzed texts demonstrate an apparent polarization of the forming mythological concepts fixating the images of Russia as an assistant selflessly helping those in need and a political actor seeking to realize their geopolitical interests at the expense of Italy. The semantic cluster groups of 'Gratitude', 'Independence', 'Cultural interaction and solidarity', 'Safety', and 'Welfare' were identified based on mythological concepts. Materials of the present article present practical value to political functionaries and journalism theorists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]