<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Subject and purpose of work:</bold> The article explores the issue of protected areas in the Podlaskie Province with particular reference to Natura 2000 areas. Its purpose is to investigate the familiarity of those areas as well as the perception of their attractiveness among the inhabitants of the Podlaskie Province.
<bold>Materials and methods:</bold> Surveys conducted in the study involved 275 adult inhabitants of the Podlaskie Province. The selection of the research sample was accidental.
<bold>Results:</bold> The meaning of the Natura 2000 concept was widely known among the respondents. These areas were considered to be attractive to tourists and quite often visited by the respondents. The most popular were the Bialowieza, Augustow and Knyszyn Forests. Hiking, cycling and canoeing were held most often in those areas
<bold>Conclusions:</bold> Natura 2000 areas in the Podlasie Province constitute a valuable and popular tourist destination. What they need is proper tourism organization so as to give visitors an opportunity to get acquainted with their most important values, as well as ensure sustainable tourism and area protection.
</abstract>

Subject and purpose of work: The article explores the issue of protected areas in the Podlaskie Province with particular reference to Natura 2000 areas. Its purpose is to investigate the familiarity of those areas as well as the perception of their attractiveness among the inhabitants of the Podlaskie Province.
Materials and methods: Surveys conducted in the study involved 275 adult inhabitants of the Podlaskie Province. The selection of the research sample was accidental.
Results: The meaning of the Natura 2000 concept was widely known among the respondents. These areas were considered to be attractive to tourists and quite often visited by the respondents. The most popular were the Bialowieza, Augustow and Knyszyn Forests. Hiking, cycling and canoeing were held most often in those areas
Conclusions: Natura 2000 areas in the Podlasie Province constitute a valuable and popular tourist destination. What they need is proper tourism organization so as to give visitors an opportunity to get acquainted with their most important values, as well as ensure sustainable tourism and area protection.

Tourist Attractiveness of Protected Areas in the Podlaskie Province in the Opinion of its Residents

Economic and Regional Studies / Studia Ekonomiczne i Regionalne

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Subject and purpose of work: The article explores the issue of protected areas in the Podlaskie Province with particular reference to Natura 2000 areas. Its...

Tourist Attractiveness of Protected Areas in the Podlaskie Province in the Opinion of its Residents

Published Online: Nov 30, 2018

Page range: 70 - 83

Received: May 01, 2018

Accepted: Sep 01, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ers-2018-0026

Keywords
tourism, Natura 2000, Podlaskie Province, protected areas

© 2018 Joanna Pietrzak-Zawadka et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Tourist Attractiveness of Protected Areas in the Podlaskie Province in the Opinion of its Residents

Published Online: Nov 30, 2018

Page range: 70 - 83

Received: May 01, 2018

Accepted: Sep 01, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ers-2018-0026

Keywordstourism, Natura 2000, Podlaskie Province, protected areas

© 2018 Joanna Pietrzak-Zawadka et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
tourism, Natura 2000, Podlaskie Province, protected areas