Accessibility of websites of the European national tourism boards

Purpose: The aim is to find out the current state of accessibility of the websites of European national tourism boards. Furthermore, the identification of the most common errors in terms of accessibility as well as recommendations leading to their correction is aimed for. Design/methodology/approach: The study is based on methods of testing the availability of web systems. The testing included automated tools, namely AChecker and Accessibility Evaluation Tool, as well as the WCAG 2.1 checklist developed by WebAIM initiative. Findings: The research has shown a relatively high accessibility of those websites. Nevertheless, some accessibility violations have been identified that can significantly complicate the accessibility of those websites for users using various assistive devices or other alternative hardware or software means. The most commonly identified errors include: failure to use alternative text for content-relevant images, the absence of text or audio transcripts for videos shared via Youtube, missing descriptions for text form elements and missing label for search form. Practical implications: The results of the research can be used in the evaluation of web presentations at the level of tourism boards and destination management. Originality/Value: The main output of this article is the application of web testing methodology on a comprehensive set of national tourist boards.peer-reviewe

Trwałość triumwiratu ESA dla zrównoważonego rozwoju – ujawnianie informacji w sektorze finansowym: jeden za wszystkich, wszyscy za jednego?

Sustainability is definitely one of the top priorities of the current highly competitive global society. For almost three decades, the EU has been declaring its commitment to sustainable growth, while progressively recognizing that the concept of shared values, the multi-stakeholder model and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are indispensable. The EU moved, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other events, from mere Directives to Regulations, i.e. the genuine reporting about sustainability is becoming a duty for certain businesses, especially in the financial sector. This political and legislative trend is boosted by the engagement of three special EU institutions (ESAs) entrusted with the development, standardization and monitoring of sustainability-related disclosures based on Regulation 2019/2088. Who belongs in this triumvirate? What are their competencies and tasks? And most importantly, how is this triumvirate and its operations perceived? A holistic multi-disciplinary research of legislative sources and performed surveys and studies yields both quantitative and qualitative data. An open-minded critical analysis of such data, along with a comparison, Socratic questioning and forensic glossing brings answers to these three burning questions and offers fresh recommendations regarding EU pro-sustainability endeavours as well as modern European integration.Zrównoważony rozwój jest jednym z głównych priorytetów dzisiejszego rywalizującego globalnego społeczeństwa. Od prawie trzech dekad UE deklaruje swoje zaangażowanie na rzecz zrównoważonego wzrostu, stopniowo uznając, że koncepcja wspólnych wartości, model wielu interesariuszy i społeczna odpowiedzialność biznesu (CSR) są niezbędne. W kontekście pandemii COVID-19, wojny w Ukrainie i innych wydarzeń UE przeszła od zwykłych dyrektyw do rozporządzeń, co oznacza, że adekwatne raportowanie o zrównoważonym rozwoju staje się obowiązkiem niektórych przedsiębiorstw, zwłaszcza w sektorze finansowym. Ta tendencja polityczna i legislacyjna jest wzmacniana przez zaangażowanie trzech wyspecjalizowanych instytucji UE (ESA), którym powierzono opracowywanie, standaryzację i monitorowanie ujawnień nieprawidłowości związanych ze zrównoważonym rozwojem na podstawie rozporządzenia 2019/2088. Kto należy do tego triumwiratu? Jakie są ich kompetencje i zadania? I co najważniejsze, jak postrzegany jest ten triumwirat i jego działania? Całościowe, multidyscyplinarne badanie źródeł legislacyjnych oraz przeprowadzonych ankiet i sondaży dostarcza zarówno danych ilościowych, jak i jakościowych. Otwarta i krytyczna analiza tych danych wraz z porównaniami, sokratejskimi pytaniami i opiniami specjalistów przynosi odpowiedzi na te trzy palące pytania i oferuje nowe zalecenia dotyczące wysiłków UE na rzecz zrównoważonego rozwoju, a także współczesnej integracji europejskiej

The specifics of selected agricultural commodities in international trade

Purpose. This paper evaluates the involvement of three selected agricultural commodities (rice, coffee and soya) in international trade. The aim is to analyze the specification of foreign trade in selected commodities and assess their different significance between representations in domestic markets and exports. This article will also assess other contexts related to international trade in these three commodities, including the negative effects on their trade. Based on the set goal, a research question was asked which evaluates the different position of the examined agricultural commodities on world export markets in relation to domestic consumption. Methodology / approach. The theoretical anchoring of the issue under study are the approaches taken to international economic relations with the emphasis on the specific features of agricultural trade. The methodological framework of the present study is based on the systematic analysis of the spatial distribution of production capacities, the territorial analysis of exports and imports within the world agricultural market and qualitative evaluation of the specifics of selected export commodities and their role in the economy of countries, including labour market importance and in the possibilities of their use. Results. The paper presents the results of the involvement of the rice, coffee and soya in international trade analysis. Most rice production is consumed on domestic markets. Unlike rice, most of the coffee produced is exported and less is consumed within the growing countries themselves. Although domestic coffee consumption is increasing, more than 70% of world production is exported. Soya bean production has increased significantly over the past 50 years as a result of the rising demand for animal feedstuff and biofuels. Almost three quarters of soya bean production is consumed as feedstuff. Originality / scientific novelty. The main contribution of the article is in the application level the elaboration of a comparative view of three selected agricultural commodities. At the theoretical level of the study, it represents a contribution to the discussion within the approaches to the organization of global agricultural trade, the interdependence of economic policies of states, trade ties and the impact on labour markets in relation to production. Agricultural commodities remain an important item in world international trade. However, their share in the total volume is gradually declining. They play an important role in the maintenance of individual countries, but at the same time they are of great economic importance, although we can also mention the less positive aspects of their production, including their impact on the environment. At the same time, it is necessary to realize that this sector is essential for human survival and also that agriculture is important from the point of food security for the population, which can contribute to and increase the level of agricultural protectionism (resilience to world market disruptions or uncontrolled import of genetically modified (GM) food and the transmission of animal diseases). Agriculture is one of the most sensitive economic sectors in the world. Nevertheless, agricultural exports have several economic benefits, including stimulating a wide range of agricultural-related industries, transport suppliers, processing and farm inputs. Practical value / implications. The production of agricultural commodities is of great importance to the economies of individual states, where it contributes to the creation of direct, indirect and induced jobs. The agrarian sector is a key sector, especially for less developed countries. The analysis confirmed the high tradability of all commodities examined and is documented by their involvement in the international division of labour in the global projection