Statystyka na rzecz rozwoju potencjału turystycznego i kulturowo-przyrodniczego Karpat

Beneficiary: Statistical Office in Rzeszów

Slovak partner: Statistical Office in Prešov

Implementation period: August 1, 2018 - July 31, 2019

Realized project value: € 49 306.50 , including ERDF co-financing: € 41 910.51 ,

As it is commonly known, skilful data analysis can significantly contribute to the economic development of the region, therefore the project partners took the initiative to use statistical data in economic development, especially in the development of tourism. The conducted research made it possible to analyze the tourist and cultural potential of the region. The tourist, cultural and natural attractiveness of the borderland was analyzed, incl. traffic intensity on tourist routes, attendance at the most important tourist attractions, tourist economy as well as the number and type of accommodation facilities. This information is not only an opportunity to develop long-term development strategies, but also for further projects aimed at the socio-economic development of the Polish-Slovak borderland.

The main activities carried out under the project:

• Conducting research on the tourist and cultural-natural attractiveness of the Borderland . As part of the task, the key research areas were analyzed, i.e. the volume of traffic on tourist routes, attendance at the most important tourist attractions, museums, cultural institutions, attendance at organized tourist and cultural events taking place in the border area, tourist economy, number and type of accommodation facilities, people staying in accommodation establishments. Additionally, a survey was conducted among tourists visiting this area at railway stations, airports and other places with a high intensity of tourist traffic. In addition, qualitative research has been carried out with tour guides as key sources. The results of the conducted analyzes and surveys were used to prepare a compendium of knowledge about the tourist and cultural potential of the region.
• Organization of information and consultation meetings of project partners with representatives of local governments in the Borderland . 4 meetings were organized in Poland and Slovakia. They were attended by project partners, experts in the field of tourism and culture, as well as regional policy makers in the region. The meetings discussed, inter alia, cooperation framework, research results among tourists and tourist guides, the form and layout of the methodological manual, the scope of training for local governments and finally prepared products in the form of a manual and an instructional video.
• Preparation of a methodological manual and an instructional video for local government officials . The developed methodological manual is a compendium of knowledge about research in the field of culture and tourism and the possibility of using them to develop a regional development strategy on both sides of the border, while the instructional video shows how to use the available databases containing information on tourist facilities and people using accommodation, visiting cultural institutions in individual regions. The recipient is instructed step by step on how to find interesting issues and information and prepare reports for the analysis.
• Organization of a nationwide conference entitled "Statistics in Carpathian Tourism" . The subject of the conference was to present the role of official statistics in the assessment of the course of socio-economic processes that affect tourism development and the use of the natural and cultural potential of the Polish-Slovak borderland. The conference was also an opportunity for discussion and exchange of views and experiences of representatives of local government authorities, public statistics services, the scientific community and tourist organizations on the possibility of establishing a tourist observatory of the Carpathians supporting the functioning of the tourist market in the region. 101 people from Poland and Slovakia participated in the conference.
• Conducting a series of trainings for representatives of local governments . Four training meetings were organized (2 each in Poland and Slovakia) on the ability to use data resources on culture and tourism. During the training, the participants were acquainted with the prepared materials and trained in searching for data in databases (e.g. with the use of BDL, Strateg, Eurostat databases and data from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, etc.). In addition, they were acquainted with an instructional video and methodological manual. 100 people participated in the training series.

We encourage you to read the   developed textbook and instructional video