The Tourist Attractiveness of Rural Spas on The Example of Przerzeczyn-Zdrój and Długopole-Zdrój

The conducted research involves an attempt at evaluating the attractiveness of rural spas using the example of two Lower Silesian villages – Przerzeczyn-Zdrój and Długopole-Zdrój. The authors pursue the answer to the following question: “Can rural spas be evaluated in the context of attractiveness, as is the case with urban ones? What guidelines can be used for the purpose of such an evaluation?” This is followed by an initial formulation of the elements determining the attractiveness of a spa, which include: the location of the spa in the context of important road, railway and bus passageways (accessibility); topographic location; the curative (medicinal) climate; the existence of curative materials (curative mineral waters, peloids etc.); the types of curative treatment available; available night lodgings in sanatoriums, spa hospitals, hotels, pensions, motels, inns; spa well-rooms; Spa Houses, green areas (including Spa Parks and forests); amphitheatres; bandshells; Spa Theatres; restaurants, cafés, bars and other gastronomic outlets; tourist attractions; non-curative functions; non-curative tourist infrastructure; the types of treated illnesses; the architectural and urban consistency of curative facilities; public utility infrastructure; the quality of the environment.