Status and Development Trends of Agritourism in Poland and the Ukraine

Abstract

Purpose. The aim of the article is to present the state and prospects of development of rural tourism in Poland and the Ukraine. Method. The analysis included data taken from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Central Statistical Office, the Institute of Tourism as well as domestic and foreign literature. Findings. In 1993, there were around one thousand agritourism farms in Poland, while in 2012, their number increased to 7.6 thousand which represents 0.5% of the total number of agritourism farms in Poland. Country dwellers are increasingly interested in economic activities within the range of rural tourism and propose offers suiting the diverse needs of tourists. At the same time, tourists are deeply interested in spending their free time in the countryside. Research limitations and conclusions. As research studies of many authors show, tourists value the charms of the countryside, i.e. peace, tranquillity and possibilities to make social relationships. However, they expect high-quality services and infrastructure as well as a rich offer of free time animation. Ukraine has great potential for multifunctional rural development and the development of agritourism. Practical implications. Presentation of the most important directions of development regarding rural tourism in Poland and the Ukraine. Originality. The article presents status and developmental trends of agritourism in Poland and the Ukraine. Type of paper. Research article.