The forming of regional identity and identity of regions in Czechia – introduction to the research on the impact of second housing and tourism

The article develops general theoretical discussion on researches on second housing as well as concepts of the new regional, new cultural and behavioral geographies. The major focus is given on theoretical and methodological background of the process of formation of regional identity and identity of regions in the areas with considerable concentration of settlements and municipalities with prevailing tourist function. It deals with identification of the inner development potential of localities and regions from socioeconomic and sociocultural views. Both identity of regions (their outer and inner image) and appurtenance of residents and tourists (second home owners) with the territory is emphasized. The key objective is to support and explain possible behavioral approaches in the research of the impact of second housing and tourism activities in the forming of regional identity and identity of the regions.


Introduction
Identity is the way which either individual or the group of individuals define themselves, feel their existence (uniqueness) and which support their consciousness in the relation to others. Identity can have a number of forms mutually overlapping or complementing. The spatial (geographical) aspect is one of the aspects represented in the identity forming process. The people's relation to their region is a natural part of their lives (Chromý, Janů 2003). Particular territory with specific social, economic or developmental conditions (with specific historical development) serves as a base for forming of territorial/regional identity. Natural conditions as well as the landscape resulting from the interaction of man and nature can also play a key role in forming of the regional identity (Black, Butlin 2001;Graham, Nash eds. 2000;Tuan 2001). Research on identity has become one of six pillars of the new regional geography in last few decades (Chromý 2004a;Mitchell 2004;Paasi 1986) and a subject of cultural geography (e.g. Gesler, Kearns 2002;Nash 2002Nash , 2003 and historical geography (Baker 2003;Graham 2000;Graham, Nash eds. 2000;Holdsworth 2002 etc.). The article is not an analytic study but presents a theoretical outline of the up-to-date research agenda in the field with a brief explanation of proposed methods. The objective is to support and explain possible behavioral approaches in the research of the impact of second housing and tourism activities in the forming of regional identity and identity of the regions. see Fig. 1 (questionnaire of 175 secondary school teachers from all administrative regions in Czechia).
Identity of regions can be perceived on two levels: subjective and objective one. The subjective level involves images of inhabitants and individuals living out of region (we speak also about regional consciousness). The objective level reflects the classifications created in the sphere of different scientific disciplines based on division of labor, commuting, physic-geographical conditions etc.
Regions are changing (developing) in time in the same way as the development of the society which creates them and as the landscape which is reshaped by the society. The base for formation of the territorial identity of population is both relations to the territory and time embedding. Another separate issue is the delimitation of the territory which is a subject of identification. Different types of boundaries can be understood: physical (physic-geographical, administrative, state etc.), cultural boundaries (societal in the broader context), symbolic etc. These boundaries (mostly those historicgeographical ones, Chromý, 2000) as well as pushing national identity at the state level may cause conflicts with identities of the smallest territorial units (historical lands, cultural regions, ethnically homogenous areas, national minority areas etc.). A complex approach to the rise of a region is defined in the institutionalization of regions (Paasi 1986). "Institutionalization of a region is a socio-spatial process of the rise of a spatial unit as a component of socio-spatial structure which can be clearly identified in various spheres of social practice and social awareness" (Paasi 1986, p. 121). Important elements for formation of the regions are individual initiative, 51 Fig. 1 Individual perception of regional identity in relation to hierarchical level of territory ("I feel myself above all an inhabitant of…") Source: Chromý, Kučerová, Kučera 2009 image of the region (inner and outer), the name of the region, creation of institutions and regional symbols, educational system, regional literature, media (mostly daily newspapers) etc. For all regions (at different hierarchical levels -either a town or a state) four stages of the institutionalization process can be declared. The rank of stages might be different, they often run simultaneously. The first stage is defined with getting a spatial form. Then Paasi (1986) declares forming of symbolic contours followed with development of institutions and the last phase -embedding of region as a part of regional system and regional consciousness of the society. In the meanwhile regional identity was built up with different extension and in different way during the stages. Paasi (2002) identifies "basic stones" of the territorial identity formed in this process.
Several types of regional identity can be distinguished from the developmental point of view: a) Regions that have gained sovereignty and the identity forming have followed. The Vysočina or the Moravskoslezský (Moravian-Silesian) provinces can stand as examples among new provinces -both territories are separated by traditional identity with historical lands and historic-geographical borders are still perceptible in the minds of inhabitants , 1999Chromý 2000;Siwek, Kaňok 2000;Zeman 2001, Chromý, Janů 2003 andothers). Perception of regional identity of secondary teachers (175) in administrative regions of Czechia is illustrated in Fig. 2. The index represents the share of positive ("yes") answers to 11 questions on pride of different regional aspects (environment, history, architecture, lively tradition, sport and others). Fig. 2 The index of regional identity of secondary teachers in individual regions of Czechia Source: Heřmanová, Chromý et al. 2009 b) Regions with traditional regional sense (regional identity) that have not gained full sovereignty and institutional system of which has not been completed. For example, traditional cultural regions in Czechia -Chodsko, Valašsko, Slovácko and others (Vencálek 1998). c) Regions with "lost" identity that can be divided into two groups. The first groupthe areas formed on the basis of national consciousness in the 19 th century (e.g. Podřipsko) that have lost their dominant ideological function. The other group comprises areas of borderlands with removed inhabitants after World War II by the expulsion of the Czechoslovak Germans to Germany (Kučera 2007), which have lost identity holders (local people). The identity of Czech borderlands (till the year 1945) remarkably lives on abroad. Regional identity of present inhabitants of these borderlands thus gets into the imaginary "conflict" with the original identity of transferred inhabitants. d) Regions "seeking" identity, partly or purposely institutionalized. Those are mainly the areas with existing purpose micro-regional associations of municipalities using predominantly in names traditional regional consciousness (Český Merán, Podblanicko, Horácko), today however in a different state than they used to have in the 19 th century. Regional population is linked together with so-called anticipated structures -ways to view and assess events influenced with the residential territory.
In the conclusion of the institutionalization analysis should be pointed out that formation of a region is not the end of the process which can be transformed in the extent, importance etc. Extinction can be observed as well because the rise of another new region leads to a change in former spatial order and to de-institutionalization of former regions. The territorial identity may be understood as unity and conformity, harmony of human behavior in the territory and time (Paasi 1986). Real inward and experienced regional consciousness (sense) presents only one component of a multidimensional phenomenon and limited focus given only on this dimension would mean a clear simplification (Vencálek 1998).
With the respect to M. Hampl's statement (2003) about qualified delimitation of community level as an autonomous structure in the framework of regional organization levels (in case of communities with at least some extent of regional selfidentification), necessity for regional identity and identity of regions research seems to be a topical and desirable theme.

Territorial identity, tourism and second housing
When analyzing the definition of the territorial identity (Passi 1986, see above), proper understanding of key term "a complex of population in the particular territory" is essential. It is evident this complex is mostly made up of residents with different roles (self-government representatives, entrepreneurs, civic association members, common citizens…). On the other side there are regions where this complex is supplied (with different intensity, periodicity, seasonally, over weekends and holidays) with temporary dwellers with strong regional bonds and identification. A typical group is represented in our country by owners and users of second homes (Librová 1996a, b, Fialová 2000, Bičík 2001, Duffková 2002, Roberts 2002, Vágner, Fialová et al. 2004, Cílek 2007, with strong relationship and heritage bonds to the dwellings and sites of their ancestors. Second homes tradition has influenced many generations and some second home dwellers feel deeper relations and identification with the place of leisure activities than with their place of residence, even deeper than autochthons. Second homes in Czechia cover 20% of all dwellings and 25% of population have a regular experience with second housing activities (Fialová 2000, Vágner, Fialová 2004, Fialová, Vágner 2005a. Regional differentiation of second housing is quite big, regarded both total amount (highest number and density in the hinterland of agglomerations, in Česká Lípa and Jablonec n. N. districts -see fig. 3) and qualitative approach -old tramping settlements from the pre-World War I era in the river valleys, weekend houses localities in open scenery from the 1970s mostly, cottage villages in non-completed border and inner periphery settlements abandoned in the socialist industrialization era and as a result of the directive central settlement structure (Fialová 2001, Vágner, Fialová et al. 2004, Fialová, Vágner 2005b).
Despite some specific features of particular types, second homes frequently represent a crucial share of tourist function of some settlements and even whole regions (Defert tourist function -relation between visitors and residents (Pearce 1987).
Second housing is a typical subject of multidisciplinary interests. Besides geographers focusing directly on second home research (Gardavský 1968, Coppock, Duffield 1975 Kowalczyk 1994, Bičík et al. 2001, Hall, Müller 2004, Müller 2004, Vágner, Fialová et al. 2004, interest in other disciplines has been evident -psychology and sociology (e.g. Ruppert 1973, Jaakson 1986, Dingsdale 1986, Williams, Montanami 1995, Librová 1996a, 1996b, Keller 2000, Duffková 2002, ecology (e. g. Weaver 2001, Staňková 2006, Jehlička, Smith 2007, economy (e. g. Wolfe 1977, Kostelecký, Nedomová, Vajdová 1998, Gallent-Tewdr-Jones 2000, urbanism (e. g. Aldskogius 1969, Kotačka 1993, Mejsnarová et al. 2001, Horská, Maur, Musil 2002, architecture (Škabrada, 2005, 2007, Švácha 2007), even historic approach (Bačvarov 1996, Trypesová 2004. Second housing has undergone several development periods since the roots in the 1920s. Last almost two decades are the period of transition with frequent conversion into residential dwelling -an example of amenity migration (Moos 2003, cit. Pásková 2003 and rise of new forms approaching to commercial tourism (leases of second homes, new recreational villages, holiday parks, recreational apartments, time-sharing , Fialová, Kadlecová, Nožičková, Vágner 2007). These processes have brought many both positive and negative changes into physical and social settlement structure (may be followed on the base of topical land use changes data (Bičík, Kupková 2006, Štych 2007. Tourism (represented mostly with second housing in our research) belongs to dynamically developing fields, also with rapid negative impulses of natural and socioeconomic character. Contribution of tourism, besides economic benefits for local entrepreneurs and institutions, should be also reflected in the changes of functions of settlement structure and landscape. Tourism and recreation have become an integral component of lifestyle and leisure of major part of population.
Settlements/municipalities/regions with dominant tourist function either based on second homes or commercial tourist forms may be considered tourist destinations (Pásková, Zelenka 2002), playing an important role in the identity of regions. Time (stage of evolution) is a major component (TALC -Butler's tourist area lifecycle). A destination goes through stages of exploration, engagement, consolidation, stagnation and post-stagnation with options of rejuvenation, stabilization or decrease (Butler 1980). This concept offers four basic functions which are applied in practice in destination management but can be also used at both theoretical and applied level. They are called descriptive, explanatory, predictive and prescriptive functions. According to the destination position in this cycle the Doxey irritation index can be derived, demonstrating one of the internal relations in the complex of the territory users (Doxey 1975).

Conclusion -a need for behavioral approaches
Attitudes of residents to visitors (second homes owners included) are under discussion, related to the type of their mutual interaction (euphoria, apathy, disgust, antagonism). These attitudes are often regularly changing in the course of the destination lifecycle (Pásková, Zelenka 2002) and considerably influence both the intensity of regional identity and mostly identity of the regions. Implementation of behavioral approaches is an appropriate method to get ideas about attitudes.
Behavioral geography represents one of important currents in socioeconomic geography (e. g. Hägerstrand 1967, Mansfeld 1992, which has been rather omitted and underestimated, with some exceptions (more about Czech behavioral geography -Drbohlav 1993). A research objective of the behavioral geography is to observe human behavior in space and search psychological factors which influence such a behavior, to reveal types of cognitive processes and join them with following reactions at impulses from the surrounding environment. Attitudes of residents to visitors and evolution of this relationship in time and space represent an appropriate research subject. Behavioral geography can thus enrich standard, often too statistic (quantitative), views at phenomena surveyed by socioeconomic geography, with a new qualitative dimension. Behavioral geography emphasizes psychological background of human spatial behavior and point out the role of cognitive and decisive factors influencing at relations between multi-dimensional environment and human activities. Perception is defined as an active mental process of obtaining knowledge about different localities (The Dictionary of Human Geography 2000). Perception of the regional space is an essential field of study. The perception can differ for various regional actors -residents, visitors, holiday-makers etc. Different perception of these groups of actors influences considerably at spatial behavior and decisive process in the locality and therefore also influenced at process of forming of territorial identity. The research proves the importance of different, not only quantitative, but also qualitative approaches. To conclude, we outline new research objectives which will be testified in the next two years' survey: 1. Theoretical level -research on second housing (cottage activities) and other forms of tourism in the relation to forming of regional identity and identity of regions within the framework of "new" regional geography, research on geographical differentiation of regional identity of Czech population and studies of mechanisms of forming regional identity and identity of region and causality of its hierarchical order. Another objective is an analysis of the process of the institutionalization of the regions and their ability to regulate in accordance with sustainable development changes of geographical environment provoked with the development of tourism (mostly with the examples of selected model regions which represent different types of spatial polarization). 2. Applied level -verification of the following hypotheses is supposed: a) Intensity of regional identity of territory users moves in the whole spectrum scale. Second home owners tend to identify themselves tighter than the residents with the territory than the residents in regions with minimal share of autochthonic population. b) Regions with arguable strong regional identity of the territory users demonstrate more attempts at respect of sustainable development principles. Social and environmental component of sustainable development is weakened for the benefit of the economic component in regions with lower identity. c) The identity of regions has not contributed sufficiently to the instruments of destination. d) Municipalities with dominant tourist function (50% and more dwellings serve for recreation) are frequently endangered in fulfilling of their basic function (self-government etc.). The way out may be seen in joining the municipality life of all territory users (second home dwellers as well). e) Ecological advantages of peripheral regions together with the development of information technologies support increasing motivation for amenity migration of specific population groups (tertiary educated young families, wealthier younger seniors). f) Intensive tourist function (also represented with total number of second homes) can cause a barrier. 3. Third level -discussion of conclusions from the research on regional differentiation of the role of the tourist function towards the research on regional identity and identity of regions with more general research framework. An analysis of results of the research in line with other surveys conducted at the department of social geography and regional development at the faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague -research on spatial polarization, periphery and landscape changes (land use/land cover), surveys on new trends of second housing etc.