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Description
Our observations indicate that Polish tourism is growing in an uncontrollable fashion. If a given tourist attraction works in one place, it is copied in many other venues which does not always work equally well there. Often a single attraction is built (e.g., a vantage point), but it does not encourage tourists to stay in a given location for longer. Unification of sightseeing attractions across the country blurs local identity and cultural distinctiveness. We wish to discover the potential of selected communes and help their inhabitants make the best use of it.Together with local organisations in four communes, Lichnowy (Żuławy Wiślane), Kurzętnik (Ziemia Lubawska), Dukla (Beskid Niski) and Niemcza (Dolny Śląsk) we will organise a participatory process to develop strategic vision of the development of local tourism.Once we have conducted local diagnosis in each commune, we will organise trips to discover interesting venues. During these excursions locals will have an opportunity to have a closer look at tourist attractions of their regions and seek the best ways to promote and protect them. Based on that, we will propose the vision of tourism development for each commune. We will consult it with inhabitants and will gather their ideas. In each commune we will organise a tourist council attended by representatives of local authorities, local institutions and organisations, people working in the tourist sector and local entrepreneurs. They will jointly work on the vision of development for their commune, considering the perspective of each side, and opinions gathered during previous initiatives.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the challenges of tourism development in three towns: Radków, Nowe Miasto Lubawskie, and Suprasl. The main problems are the lack of a coherent vision for tourism development, insufficient promotion of the local offer, and the involvement of local communities in creating the tourist offer. There was also a need to adapt the offer to different groups of tourists and to reduce the seasonality of tourism by developing attractions available all year round. The project also promoted sustainable tourism development that would consider the protection of the region’s natural and cultural resources. There was a lack of effective communication tools to present the tourism offer to both locals and tourists. The project sought to integrate different groups of local tourism actors, such as local authorities, NGOs, entrepreneurs, and residents, to jointly develop tourism in a sustainable and adaptable way to the needs of the local community.
The first step in the project was a local diagnosis, including an analysis of existing tourism promotion materials, audits, and recommendations. We also carried out 6 microresearch trips (including 3 in Suprasl) with 119 participants. The micro-tours were designed to understand tourists’ needs and present tourist attractions. Some participants were members of local communities, including those with disabilities and children.
During the project, we also conducted 27 interviews with key stakeholders in each locality, including representatives of local authorities, NGOs, and entrepreneurs. The information collected forms the basis for local diagnoses, which include analyses of strategic documents and tourism performance data.
The next step was three local deliberations (one in each town), during which participants jointly discussed the future of tourism in their respective regions. In Suprasl, we organized a special meeting about the communication of Suprasl tourism, which resulted in the creation of the quizmap "What is hidden in Suprasl?". This digital and printed map was created to help tourists discover tourist attractions tailored to different groups visiting Suprasl. Similar events were held in Radków and Nowe Miasto Lubawskie, which also resulted in the creation of a vision for local tourism and the development of new tools to promote the region.
The entire process culminated in the creation of a summary publication and the organization of a panel at the Participation Practitioners’ Forum to share experiences and promote the process in other localities.
As a result of the tourism diagnosis, the challenges and needs of tourism in the municipalities of Radków, Nowe Miasto Lubawskie and Supraśl were identified, and knowledge of the tourism potential of these destinations was provided, which formed the basis for further development activities.
We have created two tourism products that respond to the identified needs of local communities. The ROS-a (Regional Circular Tourist Route) in Radków and the quizmap "What is hidden in Supraśl?" are tools that helped to better communicate the tourist offer and attract tourists. The ROS-a became a popular product in the region, promoting local attractions, while the quizmap provided an attractive and tailored tourist offer aimed at different groups of tourists in Suprasl. These products have been positively received by local communities and will continue to serve them for the next few years.
An equally important outcome of the project was the involvement of local residents and tourism actors in the tourism visioning process. The local deliberations, workshops, and consultations allowed for the exchange of experiences and the development of a common vision for tourism development based on sustainability principles. Participation in these processes allowed for a better understanding of tourists’ and local residents’ needs and the creation of communication tools that can be used by different social groups. In particular, Suprasl succeeded in involving senior citizens who played key roles in the consultation and subsequent implementation of tourism products.
The project also benefited from an increase in participants’ knowledge of sustainable tourism development. Through consultations, deliberations, and collaboration with local organizations and associations, including the Landscape Society, the project has been able to build awareness of the need to involve local communities in creating a vision for tourism and promoting responsible tourism. Through educational activities, including the promotion of the project on social media, we were able to reach a wide audience and inspire other communities to take similar action.