ABSTRACT
Poland’s natural and geographical features, including an abundance of rivers and lakes, create favorable conditions for the development of kayaking tourism. Poland is one of the leading European countries in terms of the number of kayaking trails. The aim of this study was to propose indicators for assessing the potential of Poland’s water resources for the development of kayaking activities. This research was pursued in several stages. The number of rivers where kayaking tours are organized was determined in the first stage of the study. Indicators describing the potential of the existing water bodies for the promotion of kayaking tourism were proposed in the second stage. The study produced surprising results. The number of kayaking tour operators has increased considerably in recent years, and new water tourism centers have been established in the vicinity of large urban areas. The popularity of well-established kayaking destinations in Warmia-Masuria, Podlasie and Western Pomerania, i.e., Polish regions with considerable potential for the development of water tourism, has declined. The study revealed that the success of kayaking businesses is presently determined by other factors, and further research is needed to identify these determinants.
ABSTRACT
This article aimed to describe the potential of outdoor tourism in Poland, with emphasis on kayaking tours. Reports and strategy documents generated by the Polish Tourism Organization (PTO), spatial data, and information about tourism operators in Poland were processed and analyzed. An analysis of geographic data and business registers revealed considerable differences across Polish regions and the absence of a sustainable tourism development strategy in Poland. The results do not justify PTO's recommendations for promoting the development of outdoor tourism operators in selected Polish regions. The study demonstrated that in some Polish regions, the development of the tourist industry is contingent on the efforts made by local entrepreneurs, whereas other regions do not tap into their tourism potential despite ample natural resources for the development of water tourism. Entrepreneurship indicators in the outdoor tourism sector have generally increased in the last 46 years, but considerable differences are noted across Polish voivodeships. The study revealed that the development of outdoor tourism is highly fragmented and that strong local hubs of tourist activity exist at the local level. The interest in water tourism has increased markedly in the last two years because this form of active recreation promotes social distancing and can be safety practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this article was to describe the potential of outdoor tourism in Poland, with emphasis on kayaking tours. Reports and strategy documents generated by the Polish Tourism Organization (PTO), spatial data, and data about tourism operators in Poland were processed and analyzed. The study revealed that the development of outdoor tourism is highly fragmented and that strong local hubs of tourist activity exist at the local level. Tourists preferences for participating in kayaking tours in different voivodeships do not match the recommendations of the PTO.