Development priorities of Ukrainian-Polish cross-border tourism market in conditions of intensification of European integration processes

Abstract

The development of cross-border tourism markets can not be considered beyond the basic principles of EU development policy - smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The approach to the development of tourism based solely on the use of cultural and natural resources is unpredictable in modern conditions. European experience proves that it is important to consider tourism not as a sphere in the shadow of the industrial sector, but as an integral part of the regional innovation system and an element of the development of the knowledge economy in the region. At the same time, smart-development of tourism is based not only on the active use of the newest information and communication technologies, but also on managerial innovations, production of innovative types of tourist services, application of technologies related to the use of robotics, innovative medical equipment, renewable energy, etc. The purpose of the article is to determine strategic priorities of the development of cross-border tourism market on the basis of smart-specialization, definition of directions of joint actions of Ukraine and the EU countries (both at the level of authorities and local self-government, and business sector) in the development and promotion of new tourist products, substantiation of directions of effective the use of endogenous tourist potential of a cross-border region in conditions of activation of European integration processes. On the basis of the study, main development directions of Ukrainian-Polish cross-border tourism market on the basis of smart-specialization are defined as following: creation of a digital platform for the Ukrainian-Polish cross-border tourism market, active promotional campaign for tourist products of Ukrainian-Polish cross-border tourism market, development of cycling tourism and creation of an inter-state bicycle route, expansion of market by increasing the number of tourists aged 55+ and creation of tourist products for this age group as well as development of sentimental (nostalgic) tourism.