Abstract
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the changes in political and socioeconomic conditions after 25 years of transformation and how it provided to adopt new methodology in tourism planning. It shows the possibilities offered by the use of the foresight process in planning the development of tourism in Poland. Since one of the main foresight goals is to identify trends, the paper takes attempt to verify trends that occurred in Poland after 1989 and if they have now and will have in the near future influence on Polish tourism. Detailed objective is to characterize the systemic transformation and its impact on the tourism economy.Design/methodology/approachPaper is the review, which used literature, legislation and strategic documents query. It also includes comparative analysis.FindingsThe analysis of the political and economic changes that have taken place in Poland over the last 25 years shows that they were positive for the development of tourism base. The impact of globalization and global trends is now clearly noticeable also in Poland. Political and economic changes allow the use of foresight methodology in studies on the future of tourism while maintaining its main attributes: anticipation, participation, action, networking, vision.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis included the impact of political changes and social trends on the tourist economy. Proposals that show the positive aspects of these changes relate to tourism and present extensive opportunities to create scenarios, both at the national and regional levels.Practical implicationsThe analysis forms the basis for the activities of tourism entities in Poland. It shows the characteristics for the future of the tourism market particularly the demand side.Social implicationsThe analysis of changes in systemic and social trends enables anticipation of changes in tourism as a social phenomenon.Originality/valueThe paper presents the historical basis for the development of tourism in Poland after political changes in relation to the planning of tourism by using the methodology of foresight. It also presents these phenomena and social trends that have an impact on the development of tourism.
Highlights
The political changes that occurred in Poland after 1989, crucially influenced the organization, structure and functioning of the state, society and economy
After 1989, economic and social solutions were introduced that would lead to the full compatibility between the real needs of the society in the field of tourism market and the functioning of the tourism economy
The concept has evolved greatly and is much different from the first attempts of forecasting. This gradual transformation is undoubtedly an integral part of the changes taking place in European capitalism, because foresight is feasible only in conditions offered by the market economy (McKinnon, 1991; Woo, 1994; Szubert-Zarzeczny, 1995; Svejnar, 2002; Hayo, 2004; Rhonheimer, 2012; Richardson, 2014)
Summary
Matylda Awedyk is an Associate Professor at the Department of Tourism and Recreation, E.Piasecki University School of Physical Education, Poznan , Poland. Agnieszka Niezgoda is based at the Department of Tourism, Poznan University of Economics, Poznan , Poland. Received 29 May 2015 Revised 31 July 2015 14 September 2015 17 September 2015 Accepted 22 September 2015 © Matylda Awedyk and Agnieszka Niezgoda. Published in the Journal of Tourism Futures. The full terms of this licence may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/ licences/by/4.0/legalcode
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