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Background. Information and communication technologies significantly influence tourists' behaviour. They create the independence of consumers through facilitation of dynamic access to information and saving it, as well as sharing it via social media and other on-line channels. More and more new ICT tools including mobile technologies are being used by tourists. The problem has not been empirically investigated in Poland yet, and this was a reason to conduct research to fill this gap. Research aims. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the role of selected mobile technologies in tourism in Poland. Methodology. The questionnaire survey was conducted in the summer of 2016 among Polish tourists in the city of Krakow. The selection of the sample was of a purposive-quota character. The adopted control variables were respondents' gender and age (the general population was defined as the number of tourists reported during the previous year). The size of the sample was N = 1,175 of correctly completed questionnaires. Key findings. The results of research confirm that IT solutions are growing in popularity and slowly becoming considered as standard tools. Three main aspects were considered: the use of QR code, virtual trips and geotagging by tourists. The most popular were virtual trips to venues and/or places (78% of respondents in Krakow), then using QR code readers in smartphones (45%) and the least popular - geotagging during the journey (36%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In July 1816, a Polish aristocrat, Maria Anna Countess von Württemberg-Montbéliard embarked on a journey across Silesia, Bohemia and Austria, to Italy and Switzerland. Her travel account Certain Events, Thoughts and Feelings Experienced Abroad has been branded the first Polish sentimental journey, and records incidents selected by the author on a purely subjective basis. One of the most striking features of the travelogue, hitherto unexplored, is its extremely limited reliance on the visual, which sometimes results in the almost complete exclusion of descriptive passages or mere references to visual sensations. As early as the first couple of pages in her travelogue, Maria Wirtemberska declares that she is not going to indulge in the visual or the descriptive, but will instead follow the lead of her feminine imagination. The tourist gazes, as distinguished by Urry (1995), including the romantic, the collective, the spectatorial and the environmental, do not seem applicable to the case of Wirtemberska’s tour, with the exception perhaps of an occasional anthropological glance. For Certain Events, instead, I would propose using the terms “imaginative gaze” and “familial gaze” to illuminate Countess Wirtemberska’s treatment of the visual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arab empire had been formed long before the rise of the Polish state, so that period of the Arab-Polish relations should be viewed in a broader context, meaning Arab contacts with Slavs. The initial period of the Polish-Arab relations was mainly characterized by the unilateral interest of random Arab travelers coming to the Polish lands. Reports concerning Poland were included in the account by the Arab-speaking Ibrāhīm ibn Ya'qūb in the 10th century and in later accounts by al-Idrīsī (12th century), an Arab geographer who wrote Tabula Rogeriana, which contains very interesting descriptions of the city of Kraków/Cracow (then: the capital of Poland). The aim of the paper is to present the image of others: the Slavs (Poles) by Arab travelers, the image of Ibrāhīm ibn Ya'qūb in the Polish science (concentrating more on Ibrāhīm himself and less on what he reported about the Slavs and the Polish lands), stressing the importance of his account of the trip to the Slavic countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on social representations of Warsaw (Poland) as a tourist destination of 210 first visitors from seven EU and extra-EU countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, United Kingdom and United States of America) interviewed before and after their visit. In the framework of the social representations theory, the “cultural baggage”, rooted in the collective and social memory, forms anticipatory representations of the imagined places that may undergo transformations after the visit. How does this transformation occur?Design/methodology/approach The authors consider the transformation of social representations as detected by means of a self-administered questionnaire that comprised the following tools: scales to measure the strength of various information sources about Warsaw (school, literature, movies, songs, internet, press, tourist guides, documentaries, interpersonal communication and other); associative networks (de Rosa, 2002) with the stimulus word “Warsaw”; a list of adjectives describing the city and its centre, as well as a list of the most important places in Warsaw. The questionnaires were coded to ensure anonymity of participants while enabling the researcher to administer them for the second time (after the visit). According to the modelling approach to social representations (de Rosa, 2013a), the research was guided by three related hypotheses concerning transformation of social representations of Warsaw.Findings The results confirmed the hypotheses of potential changes in the representations that shift the focus from Warsaw as “communist” to “green” capital city, and of the role of the Polish language as a “communicative barrier” for recalling specific names of city-places after their visit.Research limitations/implications Social representations exist in people’s minds, and they include images that are further interpreted (Howarth, 2011). Especially when visitors are asked about places, it is likely that they recall specific images, but not their names. Since the questionnaires required them to write down the answers, words often did not correspond to the volatile and dynamic images that the human mind creates. In spite of recalling a specific park or fountain, participants resorted to general categories and simply wrote “park” or “fountain”. However, this limitation is familiar to the majority of social psychological researchers and very difficult, if not impossible, to overcome. The new research directions launched to integrate the research line of field studies with investigations based on new media offer complementary insights and opportunities (de Rosa and Bocci, 2014).Practical implications Destination branding has numerous practical implications. According to Ekinci and Hosany (2006), developing efficient communication methods is crucial to launching a distinctive and attractive destination personality. Hosany et al. (2006) have demonstrated that personality traits are ubiquitous in consumers’ evaluations of tourism destinations and therefore promotional campaigns should emphasize the distinctive personality of tourism destinations, based on the emotional components of destination image. European capital cities compete for visitors in the mature and saturated market, where brand strength is positively related to tourism intensity (Mikulić et al., 2016).Originality/value Examining how social representations of a city are transformed by the visit from the perspective of the supra-disciplinary theory of Moscovici constitutes an original way to link imagery and tourist practices. The major cultural issues, such as history, language, art and traditions affect the theory and practice of urban tourism. For the first time, this theoretical framework is being used in case of a post-communist European destination such as Warsaw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past three decades, travel to Poland for youth and young adults has become increasingly popular, to the extent that it is even seen as a “rite of passage”1for members of many Jewish communities. For these groups, the accompanying guides or educators are central to their educational experience. Based on a series of interviews with educational guides, this article sets out to understand the trips from the perspective of the guides. A deeper appreciation of the guiding experience—the guides’ goals and reflections—will enable a more holistic understanding of these trips. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The recent years have been a time of rapid development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in tourism. The objective of this article is to analyse and assess the use of ICTs in tourist information and promotion of selected municipalities in the Polish Carpathians, the largest region of mountain tourism in Poland. Particular attention was paid to the activities taken by DMOs, local entrepreneurs and cultural institutions. The use of ICTs in the Polish Carpathians is at a relatively advanced level, but still not sufficient enough to make these solutions a fully effective tool in building a strong regional brand in the international tourism markets. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of this paper is to present the spatial diversity of the tourism function in the rural areas of Pomerania province and the changes which occurred in 1995-2013. The tourism function has been determined by means of two characteristics: the number of tourists using accommodation and the number of businesses registered in the REGON system in sections H or I. To quantify the tourism function a synthetic measure has been used according to a procedure by Z ioło (1973). Based on this, five levels of the development of the tourism function have been determined. The quantitative and spatial changes occurring in the development of the tourism function in rural areas have then been analyzed. Particular emphasis has been placed on the so-called tourism communes, i.e. those where the tourism function is at least at a 'moderate' level of development. For these communes, nine functional types have been determined, based on two characteristics (average duration of stay and share of year-round accommodation), changes which occurred in this respect in 1995-2013 have also been determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the first part of the article the author describes the importance of physical activity, leisure, physical recreation and rest in human life. Subsequently, the author draws attention to the importance of modern hotel bases with wide recreational infrastructure in increasing the number of hotel guests and the aspect of physical recreation in the local society. The research presented in this article refers to the period from 01.01.1999 to 31.12.2012 in which there was a rapid development in hotel infrastructure and recreation in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship and which had a significant impact on tourism development, recreation and physical activity of visitors and residents of the analyzed region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Research Papers of the Wroclaw University of Economics / Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wroclawiu is the property of Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wroclawiu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background. Medical tourism is considered a conscious human activity in which a traveller is aimed at getting health care to maintain better health or aesthetic look of their own body, combined with relaxation, regeneration of mental and physical power, exploring amenities and entertainment. The aim of the study was the analysis of adult women's opinions on medical tourism and on cross-border healthcare. Material and methods. In the study, 89 adult women from Great Poland aged 40-60 took part. The results were collected by means of the author's diagnostic survey. Results and conclusions. The researched people did not know the definition of medical tourism, they associated it with health tourism (wellness and spa). Medical tourism is becoming more and more popular. Low prices, a dedicated staff, high standards of medical care, and a central location are advantages of Poland. To make a reasonable choice, patients must have an access to all the information they need on health services abroad, so it is important to accept the law that implements directives on the application of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the image of the Polish tourism brand as perceived by foreign tourists. The survey conducted in Venice (Italy) shows that Poland does not have a strong tourism brand, and the knowledge of foreigners about Poland is very poor and stereotypical. The authors attempted to identify the key issues that influenced the Polish tourism image in the context of the needs connected with the commercialization of Poland's tourism potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the main trends in the tourist attractions market in Poland and in the world. Focused on thematic park and museum sectors, it points at the following trends: the absorption of modern technology, co-creating museums by the local and virtual community, expanding the range of services provided, and implementation of new ideas -especially of the idea of a participatory museum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slow tourism is a new trend in tourism development. It combines sustainable tourism (which means that economical, environmental, and social aspects are important) and responsible tourism. The idea of the 'slow' is linked with culture, cuisine, nature, and society. The main aim is living in harmony with nature. Everybody should think about their own influence on the environment. This is the first step in protecting nature. The main purpose of this article is to explain the difference between farm stay accommodations in Poland which are connected with slow food, slow tourism or slow life with those which are not. Moreover, the author wants to present slow tourists - who they are, and what needs they have. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Promotion in managing local government units constitutes a significant element of communication with various groups of stakeholders, mainly with inhabitants and tourists. This instrument is playing a more and more significant role in the competition for limited resources. Therefore, its significance for territorial marketing is growing. The aim of the study was to identify the directions and range of promotional activity undertaken by communes taking into account their type and financial resources devoted to fulfilling tasks within this area and to define their competitive position. Material and methods. The research was conducted in compliance with the principles of indirect measurement method and data were collected with the use of a questionnaire. Additionally, statistical methods and the author's own method of "assessing promotional position" of local government units were used. The analysis included results obtained from 50 communes from eastern Poland (27 rural, 10 urban and 13 urban-rural communes). Results and conclusions. The research made it possible to identify the competitive position of a commune concerning its promotional activity aimed at inhabitants and tourists, taking into account its territorial range. Additionally, differences in using particular promotional tools were revealed and differences concerning the territorial range and segments which the activities undertaken by the communes are aimed at were noted. The calculations showed the correlation between money spent on promotion by the examined units and their general revenue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author describes the standard tourist itinerary across the city of Wrocław, especially the sites that concern the Italian presence in Wrocław or the merits of the Italian people regarding the region and its capital (artists, architects, exponents of the Church, soldiers, immigrants, etc.). He expresses the opinion that knowledge about elements of history associated with those of the same origins as the tourist group may help guides to interest and involve the group more and to improve the quality of their work. He briefly describes the preparation of the guides for their work and their sources of information, and presents the necessity of choice and selection of the material, depending on the current target audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author describes the standard tourist itinerary across the city of Wrocław, especially the sites that concern the Italian presence in Wrocław or the merits of the Italian people regarding the region and its capital (artists, architects, exponents of the Church, soldiers, immigrants, etc.). He expresses the opinion that knowledge about elements of history associated with those of the same origins as the tourist group may help guides to interest and involve the group more and to improve the quality of their work. He briefly describes the preparation of the guides for their work and their sources of information, and presents the necessity of choice and selection of the material, depending on the current target audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following paper presents the results of observations of the size and condition of cheddar pink (Dianthus gratianopolitanus Vill.) population in the 'Goździk siny w Grzybnie' reserve (Wielkopolska Province), as well as active cultivation of the species in ex situ controlled conditions and its reestablishment supporting the natural, endangered population in the reserve [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culinary tourism was characterized in the paper and the perspectives for its development were analyzed, as well as the possible uses of traditional and regional cuisine of the Podhale (mountain region of Małopolska) as a tourist product. Moreover, the cuisine of the Podhale Region was presented with its specialities, as well as the potential use of Polish regional cuisine in tourism to make it a tourist attraction, which may be of major importance for individual region or locality. It causes that a certain dish becomes identified with specific place, which attracts tourists to this region. Traditional dishes reflect also the customs prevalent in the given area; therefore a tourist may acquire information about the culture of the places he visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to create a proper tourist trails in the palace park in Radojewo and surrounding areas, according to protected areas requirements, local space management plan, as well as with harmony with natural and landscape values. The ecotourism was found as the only possible kind of tourism in this area. The present areas management is not sufficient, hence the proposition of supplementation presented here, such as information tables and small architecture elements. Radojewo and its surroundings are a high tourism potential areas. The new bicycle trail is proposed in the neighbourhood of the park. It is meant to create a better communication with surrounding areas. Two kinds of pedestrian trails are suggested on the park area together with proper tourist infrastructure. There is also a necessity to assign the palace as a historical object. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the role of myth in Italian cultural politics in the Baltic region during the Baroque era. A special focus for this analysis is the legend about a 'kinship' between the Florentine Pazzi family and the Lithuanian noble family of the Pacas (Polish: Pac), known in the sources of the seventeenth century as 'the Pazzi in Lithuania.' This legend prevailed particularly in the second half of the Baroque period, having developed under the influence of different political, religious, and social aspects of Baroque culture. It played an important part in the Papacy's interests in Poland-Lithuania during the Counter-Reformation and in the commercial activity of Italian merchants in the Baltic, which coincided with the expansion of the monastic orders in this region and the cult of St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi, to whom the Pacas family expressed their devotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an examination into the history and design of synagogues in Poland throughout its history from the 13th to 20th centuries. The geographical locations, layouts of main rooms, and external architecture of several Polish synagogues are described. Particular focus is given to the interior decoration symbolism of the 17th and 18th century synagogues. Changes in design applied in the 19th century are also discussed. Final commentary is offered relating the status of Polish synagogues in the contemporary period after the mass-exodus after World War II.

Introduction. During the last two decades (1989-2009) urban tourism and especially cultural tourism "off the beaten track" become of increasing importance in Warsaw and other major cities in Poland. The main purpose of the work was to increase the knowledge of city tourism in Warsaw in the context of the rapidly changing urban environment. The interest was also focused on better understanding of the contribution of newly created cultural clusters to the social, economic and urban landscape recovery. In addition to this, the study consists of analysis of the available quantitative data on urban tourism in Warsaw and a qualitative survey of urban landscape changes (field studies in the Praga District). Material and methods. The design of the study consisted of three main steps: a) field studies conducted in Warsaw, structured and semi-structured interviews with self-government and cultural institutions representatives; b) analysis of quantitative data from existing sources with regard to urban tourism with cultural motive; c) studying strategies of urban plans with regard to tourism; analysis of qualitative data on urban tourism, focused on possible solutions and on opportunities urban city tourism creates for built environment revitalisation. Results. The cultural clusters in the rapidly growing Praga District, the satisfactory recovery of built environment in decline, are important and difficult challenges for citizens, for urban planners, for public institutions at all levels. This experience also proofs that the role culture tourism can play in the physical, economic, social and symbolic transformation of urban space in decline - may be significant. The urban tourism is not a panacea, but as alternative could be one of the many possibilities to save urban heritage, as its capacity to create new jobs and its dynamic - make this choice very serious. Conclusion. Tourism can yield enormous socio-cultural benefits as providing much-needed funds to help restore industrial sites in decline. Examples of such a good practice can be found in many European countries, also in Poland. However the net effect of further Praga District project development and its foreseen success will depend upon the responsibility exercised by various stakeholders, including the public and private sectors as well as tourists and residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studia Socjologiczne is the property of Studia Socjologiczne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction. The aim of this study was to investigate opinions of the students of foreign tourism faculties at selected foreign universities about their general knowledge of Poland in the context of decision related to the choice of tourism migration. In addition, it was intended to examine how to promote Polish tourist market and how it is perceived by the respondents. Material and methods. In the survey, the questionnaire method was used. In total 107 questionnaires were analysed - 46 filled by the students from Portugal and 61 by the students from Latvia. Results. The study indicates a relatively good understanding of the respondents in the field of general knowledge about Poland and emphasizes the need to intensify marketing activities in international markets for the Polish tourist brand recognition, because 90% of respondents did not notice any action by the tourist organizations in this direction. Conclusions. Opinions about Poland of the respondents should become a catalyst to intensify promotional activities by the Polish Tourist Organization to improve the country's not very favorable image among foreigners. Poland's attractive location should be an important tool for marketing communication and a powerful aspect of the promotion on international markets, particularly in post-communist countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the activities of the Bibliothek & Information International library association in 2006. The finance of libraries is forecast, the structure of the administrative staff of the Bibliothek & Information Deutschland (BID) library society of Germany is examined, and services for foreign users of German libraries are described. Travels by members of the BID to libraries in Turkey, Ukraine, and Poland are examined.

Presents an article about a group of families that went to Poland to learn about the history of Jews within the country. Tourist organizations in Poland that help visiting Jews; Origin of the basic charters of the Jews in Poland; Description of the Jewish cemetery in Lodz, Poland.

Presents an account of several visits to Poland. Impact of the Holocaust period on the trends in tourist trade between Poland and North America; Reasons for the resurgence of Jewish travel to Eastern Europe in the 1980s; Information on tourist guide Zbigniew Polakowski; Description of a Jewish cemetery at Radzanow.

Deals with the mathematical significance of the city of Vilnius in early twentieth-century Poland. Description of a scenic route; Archives of Polish mathematicians; List of professors that took part in the Second Congress of Polish Mathematicians; Role of Antoni Zygmund in strengthening the mathematical circle.

Presents geographical perspectives on Polish tourism. Process of restructuring in the tourism industry which started in the 1990s; Significance of the restoration of Krobielowice Palace near Wroclaw; Refurbishment of historic buildings for tourist use.

Presents an article on traveling to Poland for the Council on Foreign Relations, with assistance from the Ford Foundation. Information on the Polish history; Description of the Palace of Culture in Warsaw; Discussion of the liberal tradition in Poland.

Presents amendments to the essay `Sir Philip Sidney's Hungarian and Polish Connections,' by George Gomori. Existence of Marcin Oborski z Obor, Sidney's host during his stay in Poland in 1573-1574; Jacques Bochetel's letter to the Emperor's court in Vienna, Austria, on the visit of Martin Deobori; Surnames of the man who visited Vienna.