Agroturystyka w Karpatach Polskich

• Authors: Krzysztof Szpara
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

PL

Agriculture used to be the most vital branch of economy in the Carpathian Mountains. It is particularly significant in the Carpathian Foothills. The importance of the agricultural function decreases towards the south in favour of forestry and tourism (Groch, Kurek 1995). The tourism function is particularly important for the Polish Carpathians, as they have the largest share of areas of the highest value for tourism. Environmental features allow many forms of tourism to develop during the relatively long tourist season (Warszyńska 1985). However, both infrastructure and tourist traffic in the discussed area are very diverse as a result of uneven distribution of tourist values and various tourist traditions (Groch, Kurek 1995). Data from the Main Statistical Office allow estimating that in 2006 there were over 2 thousand agritourism facilities able to accommodate over 22 thousand people in the Polish Carpathians. Yet the data may be considerably underestimated. The most numerous agritourism accommodation facilities are found in the Podhale (particularly in Spisko-Gubałowski Foothills) and in the Beskids and Pieniny Mountains, far fewer in the Carpathian Foothills. Over 50% of accommodation places in agritourism farms are found in the tatrzański (16.5%), nowotarski (15.6%), żywiecki (12.2%) and leski (9.5%) poviats. In the gmina of Bukowina Tatrzańska there are the most - as much as 1869 (8.4%) - accommodation places in agritourism farms (fig. 1). In the Polish Carpathians, agritourism accommodation facilities make just above 40% of rural tourism accommodation, but in the particular regions these values differ greatly from the average (fig. 1, tab. 1). The research shows that the development of the tourism function in rural areas brings many benefits. Tourism is an important source of income for the inhabitants of the country, and thus reduces emigration to urban areas (particularly in the case of young people and women). It is also an important factor in improving the living standards of the rural population (Kurek 1990). Agritourism - a specific case of rural tourism - combines the agricultural and tourism functions of the Polish Carpathians. It offers an opportunity to rest in attractive rural areas and is an important source of financial support for many families. This form of tourism usually develops in an environmentally friendly manner, thus it is also an element of sustainable tourism development in this region.

Keywords

PL

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Jagielloński
• Journal: Prace Geograficzne
• Year: 2011
• Issue: 125

Dates

published

2011

online

2011-09-18

Contributors

author

Krzysztof Szpara