The “Kraków Gallery” (Mall) – as a “tourist shopping attraction” and a new place for spending free time by young people

Abstract

The contemporary city, as well as the environment where the young people grow up, have changed significantly in the recent years. It can be easily seen how Kraków has expanded rapidly, namely in the increase of traffic, the land has been occupied by companies, banks, and the so-called “no-man’s” areas (old gardens, deserted factories), which often served the role of playgrounds and meeting spots for young people, now, at a rapid pace, are becoming occupied by supermarkets and hypermarkets. Shopping malls have become an inseparable part of the everyday life of a modern society. Moreover, they are becoming tourist attractions for many cities and are extremely popular among potential consumers. Since they are visited by people, shopping malls are not only sites for shopping but also a place for society to spend their free time, in which a significant role is played by young people. The main objective of the research was to draw attention to the forms and ways of spending free time by visiting Galeria Krakowska (“Kraków Gallery”) by youth and their impact on social behaviour and attitudes of young people.