Impact of Uzdrowisko Uniejów Park (Health Resort Uniejów Park) on tourism in the neighbouring municipalities

Abstract

Health tourism is part of the tourism market. To ensure proper functioning of a health resort, competition on the market of tourism services is a necessary prerequisite. In its developmental stage, a health resort has a limited impact on tourism functions in the region. In view of considerable differences in values referring to tourism intensity and tourist accommodation, the authors attempted to evaluate the impact of the health resort Uniejów on tourism development in the region. For the purpose of the present paper, the potential for economic activity was assessed based on the economic burden index, unemployment rate, persons employed, natural persons conducting business activity and tourism function index by Baretje, Schneider and Charvat, surveys and the analysis of tourists’ place of origin. Tourist accommodation of the study area is significantly imbalanced. The tourist and social potential of the Poddębice county remains uneven, highly polarized, with Uniejów municipality holding a dominant position. Tourism attracts private investors to Uniejów and adds up to a counter-productive dispersion of tourism destination.