OPPORTUNITIES AND BARRIERS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN RURAL AREAS

Abstract

he aim of the study is to present the opportunities and barriers to the development of tourism in the rural areas of Lower Silesia. The basis for developing the empirical part was research conducted in 2018 in 30 rural tourism and agritourism facilities. The facilities were located in Kłodzko Land (Kłodzko Poviat) and the Barycz Valley Landscape Park. A standardized interview was conducted with owners of accommodation facilities with the use of an interview questionnaire. The research results show that the development of entrepreneurship in the provision of tourist services in rural areas is effectively limited by a financial barrier, difficulties in obtaining external capital and a low level of technical and utility infrastructure. According to the respondents, the obstacles to receiving guests primarily include: a lack of a full and interesting offer and its low quality as well as a lack of food provision and, in the case of foreign tourists, insufficient knowledge of foreign languages. The factors favouring the development of tourism in these rural areas are a growing tendency to participate in rural tourism of both compatriots and foreign tourists, the growing interest of tourists in healthy food, availability of European Union funds and tax privileges. Due to the advantages of the Polish countryside, the main goal should be a continuous focus on combining agritourism with an active farm.