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The ‘I was Here’ Syndrome in Tourism: The Case of Poland

Dagmara Chylińska
Dagmara Chylińska
 et 
Gerard Kosmala
Gerard Kosmala
   | 27 juin 2023
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Publié en ligne: 27 juin 2023
Pages: 53 - 69
Reçu: 29 déc. 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14746/quageo-2023-0015
© 2023 Dagmara Chylińska et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1.

Historical graffiti carved in the rocks of the Jański Wierch range. Source: photo by Chylińska (2021).
Historical graffiti carved in the rocks of the Jański Wierch range. Source: photo by Chylińska (2021).

Fig. 2.

The 16th-century Chapel of the Holy sepulchre in Żagań, covered with historical inscriptions (Poland). The oldest inscription on the chapel dates back to 1607: Hic fuit Daniel Rudolfo(s) Griphishagensis Pomeranus Ao. MDCVII (‘Here repented Daniel Rudolph from Gryfino in Pomerania in 1607’). Source: photo by Chylińska (2014).
The 16th-century Chapel of the Holy sepulchre in Żagań, covered with historical inscriptions (Poland). The oldest inscription on the chapel dates back to 1607: Hic fuit Daniel Rudolfo(s) Griphishagensis Pomeranus Ao. MDCVII (‘Here repented Daniel Rudolph from Gryfino in Pomerania in 1607’). Source: photo by Chylińska (2014).

Fig. 3.

Not only monuments – traces of tourists’ presence on a tree in the forests of the owl mountains (Poland). Source: photo by Chylińska (2021).
Not only monuments – traces of tourists’ presence on a tree in the forests of the owl mountains (Poland). Source: photo by Chylińska (2021).

Fig. 4.

Characteristic of places with tourists’ marks according to the types of institutions. Source: own elaboration.
Characteristic of places with tourists’ marks according to the types of institutions. Source: own elaboration.

Fig. 5.

Stickers entirely covering the entrance area (A) of the Śnieżka mountain meteorological observatory (B) in Karkonosze National Park. Source: photo by Chylińska (2022).
Stickers entirely covering the entrance area (A) of the Śnieżka mountain meteorological observatory (B) in Karkonosze National Park. Source: photo by Chylińska (2022).

Perception of the specific types of ‘marking’ tourist attractions according to the categories of institutions.

Types of ‘marking’ tourist attractions* Perception of specific types of ‘marking’ tourist attractions (by number of indications)
Behaviour tolerated, approved, positively perceived Behaviour tolerated, ‘does not bother us’, indifferent Behaviour tolerated as it is impossible to fight against it Behaviour seen as vandalism that we try to limit through education Behaviour seen as vandalism, acting against law Behaviour does not occur
NP WH OM Σ NP WH OM Σ NP WH OM Σ NP WH OM Σ NP WH OM Σ NP WH OM Σ
Material 1. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 5 7 3 3 13 6 1 0 7 0 1 8 9
2. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 5 7 2 2 11 5 2 0 7 1 1 9 11
3. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 7 1 1 9 3 2 0 5 3 4 10 17
4. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 4 8 1 0 9 3 4 0 7 3 0 11 14
5. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 5 7 1 0 8 6 3 0 9 0 1 11 12
6. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 7 3 1 11 6 4 10 20
7. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 2 4 11 11 5 4 20 0 0 3 3
8. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 5 10 4 1 15 4 2 8 14
9. 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 5 2 4 11 3 1 2 6 4 0 0 4 4 4 3 11
10. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 7 9 5 5 19 6 0 0 6 1 0 1 2
11. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 4 6 2 3 11 6 3 0 9 0 1 8 9
12. 0 1 1 2 0 1 2 3 3 3 2 8 4 0 1 5 1 0 0 1 8 2 5 15
13. 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 3 1 4 6 1 3 10 9 1 0 10 1 2 4 7
14. 0 2 1 3 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 4 0 0 4 1 1 0 2 9 3 10 22
15. 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 5 1 0 1 2 1 0 0 1 10 5 10 25
Non-material 16. 8 7 10 25 6 0 0 6 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2
17. 6 5 9 20 9 2 1 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2
18. 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 3 3 7 8 2 2 12 3 0 0 3 2 1 6 9
19. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 3 7 3 3 13 6 0 0 6 1 4 7 12
20. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 5 2 6 13 9 4 0 13 1 1 4 6
21. 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 4 2 0 6 1 1 0 2 9 3 11 23
22. 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 2 1 1 0 2 2 0 0 2 11 5 10 26
Σ 15 17 22 54 20 3 8 31 35 26 17 78 104 30 38 172 100 34 6 140 76 44 151 271

The occurrence of selected types of ‘marking’ tourist attractions according to the categories of institutions.

Types of ‘marking’ tourist attractions* Occurrence (by number of indications)
Commonly Often ≥10 Rare 2–9 Once Never
NP WH OM Σ NP WH OM Σ NP WH OM Σ NP WH OM Σ NP WH OM Σ
Material 1. 3 0 0 3 3 1 0 4 10 4 3 17 0 1 1 2 0 1 7 8
2. 3 0 0 3 4 1 0 5 8 4 1 13 0 1 0 1 1 1 10 12
3. 3 0 0 3 1 0 0 1 3 2 0 5 0 0 0 0 9 5 11 25
4. 2 0 0 2 3 1 0 4 8 3 0 11 0 3 1 4 3 0 10 13
5. 3 0 0 3 2 0 0 2 7 3 0 10 2 2 0 4 1 2 11 14
6. 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 4 1 2 1 4 8 5 10 23
7. 2 0 0 2 4 1 0 5 10 5 6 21 0 1 3 4 0 0 2 2
8. 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 8 4 2 14 2 0 1 3 4 3 8 13
9. 2 1 1 4 3 1 2 6 5 1 3 9 2 0 2 4 4 4 3 11
10. 11 2 0 13 5 4 3 12 0 1 7 8 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
11. 3 0 0 3 5 1 0 6 5 3 2 10 1 2 0 3 2 1 9 12
12. 1 1 0 2 2 1 3 6 1 3 4 8 3 0 0 3 9 2 4 15
13. 2 1 1 4 5 1 3 9 6 2 3 11 1 1 0 2 2 2 4 8
14. 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 1 3 2 0 5 2 2 1 5 9 2 10 21
15. 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 3 1 2 1 4 0 1 0 1 11 4 9 24
Non-material 16. 16 7 10 33 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17. 16 5 8 29 0 2 2 4 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
18. 5 1 1 7 1 1 1 3 7 3 3 13 0 0 0 0 3 2 6 11
19. 3 1 0 4 5 0 1 6 6 1 2 9 0 1 1 2 2 4 7 13
20. 3 0 1 4 7 1 0 8 6 5 7 18 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 3
21. 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 2 0 8 0 1 0 1 9 4 11 24
22. 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 2 0 4 1 0 0 1 11 5 11 27
Σ 86 20 22 128 55 16 17 88 106 52 45 203 15 19 12 46 88 47 146 281

Tourist behaviour described as ‘marking’ tourist attractions (tentative list).

Activities
Direct, material, permanently disturbing structure or appearance of attraction Indirect, non-material, symbolic, including virtual space, not disturbing structure or appearance of attraction

Placing the date of visit on the attraction

Placing the date of visit/stay with initials of names and surnames of tourists on the attraction

Placing the date of visit/stay with full names and surnames of visitors on the attraction

Placing marks/symbols/drawings showing sympathy for or belonging to specific subcultures on the attraction

Placing declarations regarding interpersonal relationships, liking or antipathy, intentions, etc.

Throwing paint; dousing

Damaging the attraction

Destroying the attraction

Leaving traces of being there (open windows, moving objects, etc.)

Littering

Placing impersonalised, random drawings on the attraction

Leaving behind (personal) items (photos, personal belongings, ‘lucky money’)

Taking ‘souvenir’ artefacts from the visited place (plants, rocks, etc.)

Removing/adding elements of the environment of the attraction

Placing commemorative elements on the attraction

Entries in a guest book

Photographing tourist attractions

Taking a selfie with tourist attractions

Taking a selfie with tourist attractions, accompanied by risky behaviour, going against the rules

Photographing/filming despite a ban or unwillingness towards it

Organising spontaneous actions

Behaviour violating ethical, cultural norms
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Langue:
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