<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Research background:</bold> The fast pace of life of contemporary people living in developed countries results in a search for peace and relaxation, which is reflected in new forms of tourism. One of them is slow tourism, which is at an early stage of development. A new type of tourist is emerging – one who is conscious, responsible, critical, respectful of nature, open to learning about the customs, culture and religion of local populations.<bold>Purpose:</bold> This paper analyses the changes that take place in tourism from a socio-economic perspective, characterized by withdrawing from mass tourism and a shift towards individual tourism, with particular emphasis on slow tourism.<bold>Research methodology:</bold> The paper is based on a compilation of the current literature of the subject, reports and analysis of Polish websites devoted to slow travel. It is a synthesis of economic and social aspects of slow tourism development, including the motives for taking up slow tourism by tourists and the offer of slow travel in Poland.<bold>Results:</bold> The analysis of the literature reveals a large diversity in the definition of slow tourism. A lively discussion is going on regarding the meaning of the new trend, its importance and future. In Poland, slow tourism is becoming increasingly popular, as evidenced by, among others: an increase in the number of offers for slow tourists.<bold>Novelty:</bold> This analysis contributes to deepening the knowledge on new trends in tourism – slow tourism. These considerations contribute to the author’s further research on the development of this phenomenon.</abstract>

Research background: The fast pace of life of contemporary people living in developed countries results in a search for peace and relaxation, which is reflected in new forms of tourism. One of them is slow tourism, which is at an early stage of development. A new type of tourist is emerging – one who is conscious, responsible, critical, respectful of nature, open to learning about the customs, culture and religion of local populations.Purpose: This paper analyses the changes that take place in tourism from a socio-economic perspective, characterized by withdrawing from mass tourism and a shift towards individual tourism, with particular emphasis on slow tourism.Research methodology: The paper is based on a compilation of the current literature of the subject, reports and analysis of Polish websites devoted to slow travel. It is a synthesis of economic and social aspects of slow tourism development, including the motives for taking up slow tourism by tourists and the offer of slow travel in Poland.Results: The analysis of the literature reveals a large diversity in the definition of slow tourism. A lively discussion is going on regarding the meaning of the new trend, its importance and future. In Poland, slow tourism is becoming increasingly popular, as evidenced by, among others: an increase in the number of offers for slow tourists.Novelty: This analysis contributes to deepening the knowledge on new trends in tourism – slow tourism. These considerations contribute to the author’s further research on the development of this phenomenon.

Slow Tourism – The Fashion for Slowness or a Conscious Choice?

University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn

Faculty of Economic Sciences, Institute of Economics and Finance, Department of Economic Policy

Folia Oeconomica Stetinensia

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

{"article-title":"Slow Tourism \u2013 The Fashion for Slowness or a Conscious Choice?"}

Research background: The fast pace of life of contemporary people living in developed countries results in a search for peace and relaxation, which is...

Slow Tourism – The Fashion for Slowness or a Conscious Choice?

Published Online: Jan 29, 2021

Page range: 468 - 483

Received: Apr 16, 2020

Accepted: Oct 09, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/foli-2020-0060

Keywords
slow tourism, slow travel, CittaSlow, sustainability

© 2020 Joanna Zielińska-Szczepkowska, published by Sciendo

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

Slow Tourism – The Fashion for Slowness or a Conscious Choice?

Published Online: Jan 29, 2021

Page range: 468 - 483

Received: Apr 16, 2020

Accepted: Oct 09, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/foli-2020-0060

Keywordsslow tourism, slow travel, CittaSlow, sustainability

© 2020 Joanna Zielińska-Szczepkowska, published by Sciendo

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

Keywords
slow tourism, slow travel, CittaSlow, sustainability