Aktywność turystyczna seniorów w Polsce

Research into tourism activity of seniors is a response to social changes taking place in European countries, including Poland. Because of ageing societies, senior tourism becomes an important and developing sector of the tourism market. The purpose of this study was to explore the travelling patterns of elderly people who are socially active in their day-to-day environment. Also, this study addressed some research problems which boil down to determining: how often do Polish seniors travel; what are the main reasons behind senior tourism; and how are their trips organized. This paper includes a literature review and presents findings from an empirical study based on a survey questionnaire administered to learners at the University of the Third Age of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. Based on their research, the authors identified the need for stimulating social activity, including tourism activity of seniors. The respondents enjoyed taking part in organized domestic and international trips. Research also suggests that seniors had a preference for long (at least 5-day) trips, willingly used travel agency services, and enjoyed travelling by plane and staying in hotels.Badania nad aktywnością turystyczną seniorów stanowią odpowiedź na zmiany społeczne, jakie zachodzą w krajach europejskich, w tym w Polce. Starzenie się społeczeństwa sprawia, że turystyka seniorów to ważny i rozwijający się sektor rynku turystycznego. Celem badań było rozpoznanie specyfiki wyjazdów osób starszych przejawiających w codziennym środowisku aktywność społeczną. Przyjęto również problemy badawcze, które sprowadzały się do określenia: częstotliwości wyjazdów seniorów w Polsce, głównych powodów wyjazdów turystycznych seniorów oraz sposobów organizacji tych wyjazdów. Dokonano analizy literatury oraz zaprezentowano wyniki badań empirycznych przeprowadzonych z wykorzystaniem ankiety wśród słuchaczy Uniwersytetu Trzeciego Wieku SGGW w Warszawie. Autorki wskazały potrzebę stymulowania aktywności społecznych, w tym aktywności turystycznej seniorów. Respondenci chętnie uczestniczyli w zorganizowanych wyjazdach krajowych i zagranicznych. Ponadto badania wskazują, iż seniorzy preferowali wyjazdy długookresowe, tj. minimum pięciodniowe, chętnie korzystali z usług biur podróży, transportu samolotowego oraz noclegów w hotelach

MULTIPURPOSE RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN SELECTED EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES (EXAMPLES OF IMPLEMENTED PROJECTS)

The purpose of this paper is to present, by means of case studies, examples of activities in the field of multipurpose development businesses which, due to services offered, their location and recognition, can serve as good practices and provide inspiration for the development of such activities in rural areas of selected EU countries. A key aspect of multipurpose rural development is to shift from single-function development towards farm diversification in order to engage in and develop non-agricultural activities. The concept of multipurpose rural development, where agriculture is no longer the sole function of rural areas, has often become a panacea for maintaining the basic form of agriculture, especially in areas affected by severe fragmentation of agricultural land. The examples found in three countries (Poland, Spain and Romania) showed that agriculture can be combined with non-agricultural activities with environmentally-friendly, innovative and educational concepts. The analyzed cases also showed that entrepreneurship in rural areas is often carried out in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, and the multifunctional nature of these activities indicates that even small farms are able to survive. However, it is important that it is not only agricultural activity, but other activities connected with it, using natural and cultural resources of farms and villages, such as processing or education

DIRECT SALES AS AN EXAMPLE OF A DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL WITHIN THE MAŁOPOLSKIE REGION

The purpose of the study was to attempt to present examples of projects related to direct sales within the Małopolskie Province aimed at selling and promoting certified organic products. Direct sales are one of the best forms of a distribution channel between a food producer and a consumer. Direct contact gives measurable benefits on both sides of this chain, fosters raising the quality of offered products and ecological awareness among consumers. The offer proposed by producers often includes certified organic products. The Małopolskie Province is characterised by high agricultural fragmentation. In order to survive on the market, small farms change the profile of their farms, often to organic plant production. Growing awareness of customers with regard to ecology causes producers to strive to certify their farms. This is certainly connected with quality and food security. The analysis covered two types of projects that are characterised by an innovative approach: the Odrolnika.pl project and Targ Pietruszkowy (Parsley Market) in Cracow. The research tool was an interview questionnaire, and the research method was a case study. The research was conducted among the leaders of both projects in 2018. The Odrolnika.pl project and Targ Pietruszkowy in Cracow are very good examples of direct sales and the promotion of certified organic food with the simultaneous familiarisation of customers with the values of such products. This is possible due to direct contacts of food producers with consumers

MULTIPURPOSE RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN SELECTED EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES (EXAMPLES OF IMPLEMENTED PROJECTS)

The purpose of this paper is to present, by means of case studies, examples of activities in the field of multipurpose development businesses which, due to services offered, their location and recognition, can serve as good practices and provide inspiration for the development of such activities in rural areas of selected EU countries. A key aspect of multipurpose rural development is to shift from single-function development towards farm diversification in order to engage in and develop non-agricultural activities. The concept of multipurpose rural development, where agriculture is no longer the sole function of rural areas, has often become a panacea for maintaining the basic form of agriculture, especially in areas affected by severe fragmentation of agricultural land. The examples found in three countries (Poland, Spain and Romania) showed that agriculture can be combined with non-agricultural activities with environmentally-friendly, innovative and educational concepts. The analyzed cases also showed that entrepreneurship in rural areas is often carried out in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, and the multifunctional nature of these activities indicates that even small farms are able to survive. However, it is important that it is not only agricultural activity, but other activities connected with it, using natural and cultural resources of farms and villages, such as processing or education

Health Tourism—Subject of Scientific Research: A Literature Review and Cluster Analysis

The purpose of this article is to identify main research areas in health tourism in scientific research. The data used in this analysis span from 2000 to 2022, was retrieved from the Web of Science database, and comprises a total of 1493 bibliometric records of publications. The paper includes both a quantitative and a qualitative analysis. The following four main research areas were identified based on the results: (1) patient satisfaction built upon trust; (2) health impacts of the destination (including the economic aspect, which plays a decisive role in choosing a tourism destination); (3) health behavior as a major part of human activity; and (4) traveling with a view to regain one’s health. Note that the limitations of this study—which mostly affect the methodological part—need to be taken into consideration. This is the consequence of the selected publication database and of the search criteria used, such as the publication year or language

SYTUACJA EKONOMICZNA GOSPODARSTW EKOLOGICZNYCH W POLSCE NA TLE UNII EUROPEJSKIEJ

Organic agriculture is a relatively new production system, which is growing in importance worldwide. As in all enterprises, economic results are important for organic farms. This article aims to determine the economic situation of organic farms against the background of conventional entities on the example of Poland by comparing production potential and relations between production factors, production volume, and the economic results. The analysis was based on the data of the Polish FADN. Since organic farms in Poland are subject to the special EU support, the economic results were presented in two variants, i.e. with and without subsidies for operating activities. Such an approach constitutes an attempt to assess to what extent the two analyzed groups (i.e. organic and conventional farms) can function on the market without public support. The analysis was conducted for two extreme periods, i.e. 2007-2009 and 2016-2018. The first one marks the moment of launching the first Rural Development Programme in Poland for a full seven-year implementation period. The year 2018 provides the latest data available. According to the results, organic farms have lower production potential than conventional farms and less favourable relationships between production factors. Yields and animal productivity are also lower. More importantly, they achieve much lower economic results, which are in large part generated by direct payments. In conclusion, the study showed a high production and income inefficiency of organic farms and their significant dependence on public support.Rolnictwo ekologiczne to stosunkowo nowy system produkcji, którego znaczenie rośnie na całym świecie. Podobnie jak w przypadku wszystkich przedsiębiorstw, także dla gospodarstw ekologicznych wyniki ekonomiczne mają fundamentalne znaczenie. Celem artykułu było określenie sytuacji ekonomicznej gospodarstw ekologicznych na tle podmiotów konwencjonalnych na przykładzie Polski poprzez porównanie potencjału produkcyjnego oraz relacji między czynnikami produkcji, wielkości produkcji i uzyskanych wyników ekonomicznych. Analizę oparto na danych Polskiego FADN. Ze względu na fakt, że gospodarstwa ekologiczne w Polsce objęte są specjalnym wsparciem Unii Europejskiej, wyniki ekonomiczne przedstawiono w dwóch wariantach, tj. z dopłatami do działalności operacyjnej i bez nich. Takie podejście jest próbą oceny, na ile dwie analizowane grupy (tj. gospodarstwa ekologiczne i konwencjonalne) mogą funkcjonować na rynku bez wsparcia publicznego. Analiza została przeprowadzona dla dwóch skrajnych okresów, tj. lat 2007-2009 i 2016-2018. Pierwszy to moment uruchomienia pierwszego w Polsce Programu Rozwoju Obszarów Wiejskich na pełny siedmioletni okres realizacji. Rok 2018 to najnowsze dostępne dane. Z przeprowadzonych badań wynika, że gospodarstwa ekologiczne mają niższy potencjał produkcyjny niż gospodarstwa konwencjonalne i mniej korzystne relacje między czynnikami produkcji. Plony i produktywność zwierząt są również mniejsze. Najważniejsze jest to, że osiągają znacznie niższe wyniki ekonomiczne, które w dużej mierze są generowane przez dopłaty bezpośrednie. Podsumowując, badanie wykazało wysoką nieefektywność produkcyjną i dochodową gospodarstw ekologicznych oraz ich znaczną zależność od wsparcia publicznego

OCZEKIWANIA KONSUMENTÓW WZGLĘDEM OFERTY AGROTURYSTYCZNEJ

Agritourism is a subject of growing interest among consumers, therefore, the key to the success of agritourism activities is to know the expectations and preferences of customers. The purpose of the study was to present the expectations of consumers of agritourism services, including the factors and elements of choosing this form of recreation, and what additional services and attractions would be most desirable. The empirical material was collected through desk research and a diagnostic survey using the CAWI technique. The surveys were conducted in March 2023 and the research sample consisted of 200 people. They showed that among the most important reasons for choosing an agritourism farm as a place to relax were the opportunity to spend more time with the family, the attractive price of services, and the possibility of taking advantage of the food offered by the host. On the other hand, respondents indicated a desire to rest in a peaceful environment and direct contact with nature as the main elements for choosing agritourism farms. In addition, the survey showed that the attractive price of the agritourism offer is a significant factor in encouraging people to take advantage of their stay on agritourism farms

Obtaining Forest Biomass for Energy Purposes as an Enterprise Development Factor in Rural Areas

This article presents how selected factors related to forest biomass affect enterprise development in rural areas. The study used a multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA), as well as the AHP operational research method. The following factors were selected for analysis: conifer timber harvesting, sales of renewable fuel in the form of briquettes to selected customers, and the number of the given company’s regular customers. Their selection was determined by the fact that using plant material for energy purposes has become significantly more popular in recent years. This particularly includes forest biomass, which is increasingly used as an energy commodity in the Polish heating industry. Forest biomass is a biodegradable raw material generated in the form of waste during wood production and processing, as well as during sanitation cutting. The study was conducted using a diagnostic survey method with a survey questionnaire in the first quarter of 2020. It included 614 owners of small and medium-sized enterprises operating in various rural areas across all of Poland’s voivodeships. The study was conducted using the CATI method. Analyses defining the dependence of specific factors on the examined parameters and supporting the priority nature of the given actions may show the development of particular pro-ecological actions in a given area. In one case, the critical level of significance determining the assignment of the analyzed factor to a specific homogeneous group was below 0.05. This means that there was a correlation between the sales of renewable fuel in the form of briquettes to selected customers and the number of enterprises in the voivodeship. Therefore, due to the sales of renewable fuel in the form of briquettes to selected customers, the greatest development prospects for wood industry companies existed in the Małopolskie, Mazowieckie, Śląskie and Wielkopolskie Voivodeships

OCZEKIWANIA KONSUMENTÓW WZGLĘDEM OFERTY AGROTURYSTYCZNEJ

Agritourism is a subject of growing interest among consumers, therefore, the key to the success of agritourism activities is to know the expectations and preferences of customers. The purpose of the study was to present the expectations of consumers of agritourism services, including the factors and elements of choosing this form of recreation, and what additional services and attractions would be most desirable. The empirical material was collected through desk research and a diagnostic survey using the CAWI technique. The surveys were conducted in March 2023 and the research sample consisted of 200 people. They showed that among the most important reasons for choosing an agritourism farm as a place to relax were the opportunity to spend more time with the family, the attractive price of services, and the possibility of taking advantage of the food offered by the host. On the other hand, respondents indicated a desire to rest in a peaceful environment and direct contact with nature as the main elements for choosing agritourism farms. In addition, the survey showed that the attractive price of the agritourism offer is a significant factor in encouraging people to take advantage of their stay on agritourism farms

Economic Situation of Organic Farms in Poland on the Background of the European Union

Organic agriculture is a relatively new production system, which is growing in importance worldwide. As in all enterprises, economic results are important for organic farms. This article aims to determine the economic situation of organic farms against the background of conventional entities on the example of Poland by comparing production potential and relations between production factors, production volume, and the economic results. The analysis was based on the data of the Polish FADN. Since organic farms in Poland are subject to the special EU support, the economic results were presented in two variants, i.e. with and without subsidies for operating activities. Such an approach constitutes an attempt to assess to what extent the two analyzed groups (i.e. organic and conventional farms) can function on the market without public support. The analysis was conducted for two extreme periods, i.e. 2007-2009 and 2016-2018. The first one marks the moment of launching the first Rural Development Programme in Poland for a full seven-year implementation period. The year 2018 provides the latest data available. According to the results, organic farms have lower production potential than conventional farms and less favourable relationships between production factors. Yields and animal productivity are also lower. More importantly, they achieve much lower economic results, which are in large part generated by direct payments. In conclusion, the study showed a high production and income inefficiency of organic farms and their significant dependence on public support