The analysis of agritourism accommodation indicators for areas located in the vicinity of national parks

Abstract

Abstract Increasing tourism development makes it an important factor in generating economic growth and employment in the European Union. Due to high environmental attractiveness of many regions, this sector of economy plays an important role in Poland as well. The essential principle of functioning of tourism is to provide adequate accommodation. It seems that less intensive and less aggressive accommodation, based on existing housing stock, would be most appropriate in areas with high natural values. The article presents research on agritourist accommodation in 23 areas located in the vicinity of national parks. Obtained results allowed to assess an extent to which agritourism is a popular form of additional activity for inhabitants of such areas, which is also a form of activation of local communities. The analysis was done using a multivariate method. Indicators of intensity of agritourist accommodation and agritourist accommodation places, as well as their surface density were calculated. Obtained results enabled the authors to divide the analysed areas into 4 types in terms of intensity of agritourist accommodation related to other sorts of accommodation and the density of agritourist accommodation. It is generally stated that the agritourist accommodation neither prevail nor develop on a level comparable to other forms of accommodation on the analyzed areas. In this respect, it can prove that location of the area in the vicinity of a national park is not a sufficient guarantee of intensive agritourism development.