Religious tourism as a development factor for peripheral areas : the case of the Polish-Czech border

Purpose: This article presents selected results of studies on the impact of religious tourism on the development of peripheral areas on the example of the Polish-Czech border area. The study subject was determining whether religious tourism can be a factor conductive to local development. Approach/Methodology/Design: The study was conducted based on data available in public statistics and analysis of available literature of the subject. The study covered 2 sanctuaries: St. Anne Mountain (Góra Świętej Anny) and Turza Śląska, located in the southern border area of Poland, in the communes of Leśnica and Gorzyce. Findings: Religious tourism is not perceived as a development factor in strategic documents of the studied Communes. Increased border traffic and growing spending by foreigners in the border area point out to the development potential of different forms of business in the Polish-Czech border area. Practical Implications: The study has proven that it is necessary to create an integrated tourist product based on cultural, social and religious values of the region in order for the religious tourism to develop. Originality/Value: Proposed solutions are to contribute to a growth in the quality of services offered to religious tourists in both studied Communes.peer-reviewe

Shopping tourism as a factor in the development of peripheral areas : the case of the Polish-German borderland

Purpose: The article presents selected results of research on the impact of shopping tourism on the development of peripheral areas illustrated by the case of the Polish-German borderland. The purpose of research was to determine whether shopping tourism can be a factor in the development of peripheral areas. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research was based on data from publicly available statistics and the analysis of available literature on the subject. It covered 8 powiats (counties) located along the Polish-German border. Findings: The heavier border traffic and the increasing expenses of foreigners in the border area point to the potential development of various forms of economic activity in the area of the Polish-German border. Practical Implications: The research has demonstrated that the development of shopping tourism requires an integrated tourist product. Shopping tourism is a significant factor in the development of regional enterprise. Originality/Value: The suggested solutions are to contribute to higher quality of services offered to shopping tourists crossing the Polish-German border.peer-reviewe

Study of the impact of managers' attitudes towards creativity in terms of taking up creative activities

PURPOSE: This article deals with the issues of managers' attitudes towards creativity and their impact on the development of creative organizations. The scientific aim of the article is to explain and extend the conceptualization in the field of creative activities performed by managers and the relationships that occur with the relevant characteristics determining the development of creative activities.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The consideration formed the basis for the formulation of the research hypothesis: There is a relationship between the selected attitudes of managers and creative activities. To verify such a hypothesis, the results of survey study conducted among among managers working in creative organizations who acquire knowledge in educational institutions were used.FINDINGS: The results of the research showed the existence of significant relationships between the selected characteristics that determine appropriate attitudes toward creativity and the performance of creative activities. It turns out that a manager who performs creative activities is characterized by only selected attitudes from among the many presented in this article.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The obtained research results are of particular importance for the development of appropriate attitudes of managers towards creativity in organizations. The indication of guidelines that may change this state of affairs and the developed research allowed us to identify of areas whose improved functioning could affect their more effective development and meet the requirements of competitiveness in the form of a greater number of new ideas generated.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The obtained research results showed which organizational conditions are most conducive to the development of creativity. The results obtained will allow organizations to focus on these elements in order to achieve better results in the form of more innovations.peer-reviewe

General determinants and directions of development for the utilisation of renewable energy sources in the West Pomerania province

PURPOSE: The depletion of conventional energy sources with a constantly growing energy demand requires a new approach to our energy policy and in a wider approach, a new social and economical development policy. The article presents the determinants and directions of development of utilisation of renewable energy sources in the West Pomerania province.APPROACH/METHODOLOGY/DESIGN: The study was based on secondary data, i.e., quantitative data available for the renewable energy sector in Poland and West Pomerania province and the analysis of available literature. The theoretical issues were determined based on the analysis of available literature on the regional development and renewable energy. The research methods used in the study included a critical analysis of the literature, comparative analysis and secondary data analysis.FINDINGS: There is a growing interest in renewable energy source due to increasing environmental pollution, depletion of conventional energy sources, regular increase in prices of energy resources and constantly increasing energy demand. A new, competitive regional economy can be formed with the energy obtained from the renewable sources.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The analysis and evaluation carried out in the article shows that a key factor affecting the development of this sector is an active participation of the local government and resources provided by the European funds. The results can be used to develop a long-term strategy on the development of the renewable energy sources including the programs to counteract the negative effects of utilisation of conventional energy sources.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The proposed solutions are to contribute to the development of renewable energy in the studied area.peer-reviewe

Instruments for managing the EU labour market in the face of the COVID-19 crisis

Purpose: The article presents in a multifaceted manner the instruments used in the EU member states to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the labour market. Design/Methodology/Approach: Theoretical issues were examined on the basis of the analysis of available source literature on labour market economics and risk management. The research methods used in this paper include, critical analysis of the source literature, the method of comparative analysis and secondary data analysis. Findings: The article identifies actions taken by the EU member states to support the labour market and to develop a model of instruments intended for EU authorities and member states to reduce the risk of labour market disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic. Practical Implications: The analysis and evaluation carried out in the article indicated that risk management on the EU labour market during the pandemic requires integrated protective measures. The results obtained may be used to formulate a long-term strategy for the EU labour market and programmes to counter the effects of the crisis. Originality/value: The issues as presented in the article concerning the instruments used to manage the EU labour market in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic have not been studied in Polish and foreign literature.peer-reviewe

Significance of selected modes of transport used in services facilitating Polish foreign trade

The aim of this paper is to assess the utilization of selected transportation modes in services facilitating Polish foreign trade between 2010 and 2017. Poland’s foreign trade in commodities is characterized generally herein. The contribution of individual transport modes (i.e. road, rail, inland waterways, sea, or air) to facilitating Polish exports and imports is analyzed in terms of quantity and value. As research material, data from the Customs Administration Analytical Centre are used. Simple statistical and graphic methods (e.g., structural and dynamics indicators) are applied. Polish foreign trade in commodities grew between 2010 and 2017. At the same time, the shares of individual transport modes in facilitating exports and imports shifted, with transport by road remaining the largest contributor. Quantitatively, the share of road transport increased, in both exports and imports; however, a reverse trend was observed for its value

Foreigners on the labor market of Poland’s western borderland

Artykuł porusza problematykę kapitału ludzkiego w kontekście rozwoju obszarów przygranicznych. Celem badawczym pracy była charakterystyka i analiza cudzoziemców na rynku pracy wybranych regionów przygranicznych. Zakres terytorialny badań obejmował cztery województwa zachodniego pogranicza Polski, tj.: zachodniopomorskie, lubuskie, dolnośląskie i opolskie. W pracy analizowano wyłącznie aspekt zatrudniania cudzoziemców na podstawie tzw. uproszczonej procedury oświadczeniowej. Podjęcie powyższego tematu podyktowane było zaobserwowaniem nasilenia tego zjawiska w regionach położonych przy zachodniej granicy Polski. Wyniki badań przeprowadzonych w latach 2010-2017 potwierdziły prawie 15-krotny wzrost zatrudnienia cudzoziemców na polskim pograniczu zachodnim. Cudzoziemcy tylko częściowo rozwiązują problemy rynku pracy badanych regionów. Badania oparto na metodzie analizy literatury przedmiotu, desk research oraz metodzie opisu z elementami wnioskowania dedukcyjnego.The article presents the issue of human capital in the context of the development of border areas. The research goal of the study was to characterize and analyze foreigners on the labor market in relation to selected border regions. The territorial scope of the research covered four voivodships of the western border of Poland: Zachodniopomorskie, Lubuskie, Dolnoslaskie and Opolskie. The work analyzed only the aspect of employing foreigners on the basis of the so-called “simplified declaration procedure”. The results of the research carried out in 2010-2017 confirmed almost a 15-fold increase in employment of foreigners on the Polish western border. Foreigners only partially solve the problems of the labor market of the studied regions

Znaczenie usług w handlu zagranicznym województwa dolnośląskiego

W artykule poruszono problematykę handlu zagranicznego w aspekcie rozwoju regionów. Celem badań jest ocena znaczenia usług w wymianie międzynarodowej dla gospodarki regionu przygranicznego. Obszar terytorialny badań stanowiło województwo dolnośląskie. W pracy wykorzystano metodę analizy danych statystycznych w okresie 2010-2013. Przedstawiono analizę wymiany handlowej towarów i usług badanego regionu. Za pomocą wybranych wskaźników, w tym udział badanej jednostki w generowaniu eksportu i importu krajowego oraz stopy eksportu towarów i usług, podjęto próbę oceny roli usług w gospodarce województwa dolnośląskiego. Badania wykazały, że w międzynarodowej wymianie województwa dolnośląskiego rośnie udział usług, a maleje udział towarów. Wzrasta też otwartość tej gospodarki, co ma znaczenie dla jego rozwoju. Należy też uznać, że jest ważną determinantą rozwoju regionu

INTERREG a funds as an instrument for managing a border region

The article focuses on the financing of border regions from the point of view of the use of selected EU funds. It analyses INTERREG A funds designed to support cross-border cooperation. The purpose of the research was to identify and analyse innovative projects undertaken under INTERREG A programmes in Polish-German areas. The territorial scope of the study corresponded to the assisted area outlined for the purposes of these programmes. It included Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship on the Polish side, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Brandenburg on the German side. The temporal scope covered three programming periods: 2000-2006 (Poland only joined it in 2004), 2007-2013 and 2014-2020 (still ongoing). The studies were based on an analysis of material obtained from INTERREG A online project databases, as well as the available reports and other sources. The results confirmed that INTERREG A programmes provided opportunities for innovative projects, the share of which, among all the projects completed was small, but essential from the point of view of the development of a cross-border region. The innovative projects were mostly in the field of healthcare. The structure of the entities performing such projects was diversified, although higher education institutions prevailed

The competitiveness of peripheral areas illustrated with an example of the Polish-German borderland

The paper presents the results of research on competitiveness in the border regions in: 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009. For the purpose of assessing the differences in regional development, the Human Development Index (HDI) was used. The level of competitiveness was evaluated based on 6 indexes. The results show considerable disproportions in competitiveness along the western border of Poland