Turystyka w Popradzkim Parku Krajobrazowym

Tourism in Poprad Natural Landscape Park

Summary: Poprad Natural Landscape Park is located in the Polish Carpathian Mountains within the Beskid Sądecki mountain group (Radziejowa and Jaworzyna Krynicka ranges). The park was established in 1978 and together with its buffer zone covers 72,000 hectares of land. The main goal of the park is to protect beautiful mountain landscape full of rare flora and fauna. Forests cover 75% of the park's area and together with a number of sources of mineral water make the park a unique place to visit. The southern part of the park used to be inhabited by the so-called Lemko population before the Second World War. Numerous secular (homes) and holy sites (churches) associated with this ethnic group still dot the local landscape. In the 19th century, spas and health resorts were established in the area that would later become the park (Krynica, Muszyna) and its buffer zone (Szczawnica). These establishments used the local mineral water to treat digestive system ailments. The spectrum of tourist services widened following World War II with the establishment of many recreational facilities. The estimated number of hotel beds at that time hovered around 30,000 with 40% of them being found at spas and health resorts. Ski lifts and ski centers were built at the same time which helped to fill the available hotel space. Recreational and health tourism became concentrated in a few select places such as Krynica, Muszyna, Piwniczna, and Szczawnica (offering over 80% of all hotel beds). The situation has not changed since the political and economic transformation of the 1990s. The above mentioned tourist centers still play key roles in the regional economy. The nature of the services offered, however, has changed with far fewer state recreational facilities and far more private sports and spa centers operating today (2008). Several new ski facilities were built in the main tourist hotspots after 1990. Together with older facilities, their capacity has reached 30,000 visitors. It can be argued that the health spa system should drive the development of tourism in the park given its relatively low impact on the park's natural environment. The continued development of the aforementioned system would help protect the park and make the region competitive with other tourist areas in Central Europe.

Domański B., Kurek W. (red.), 2009, Gospodarka i Przestrzeń. Prace dedykowane Profesor Danucie Ptaszyckiej-Jackowskiej, IGiGP UJ, Kraków, s. 99-112.

Instytut Geografii i Gospodarki Przestrzennej UJ

ISBN 978-83-88424-45-8

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