The service sector in the Poznań agglomeration – changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The main aim of the article is to describe the changes taking place in service facilities located in the Poznań agglomeration as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research procedure aims to answer the following questions: (1) what was the impact of the pandemic on service (depending on the type and location of the facility); (2) how behavior of service consumers changed during the pandemic, and whether some of these behaviors remained after the end of the pandemic period. The data for analysis come from research conducted in June 2022 using the survey technique among 198 service outlets and 283 inhabitants of the Poznań agglomeration understood as the city of Poznań and Poznań poviat. The results of surveys conducted in the Poznań agglomeration confirm the conclusions of national and international studies showing that the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the entire economy, but hotel and catering services have suffered the most. Tourism related companies turned out to be the most vulnerable to the crisis caused by the pandemic and, in the absence of an alternative in the form of electronic services, were placed in the category of the biggest losers among service sector economic operators. The effects of the pandemic were also felt by retail outlets, although in this case the location of the outpost and the type of assortment sold were important. In general, retail outlets located in city centers and shopping centers, trading in non-food products, were harder hit. Business Services and ICT services turned out to be the most resistant, as they were relatively easily transferred to the network and provided remotely.