Dr Jolanta Cichowska

Estimation and analysis SWOT lead for the selected agroturistical farms of Kujawsko-Pomorskie province

The estimation and analysis SWOT lead for the agroturistical farms showed that despite of significant points that make providing the service difficult (among the others, the lack of money or good promotion) one can observe a great potential of possibilities in the activities of a single entity. The choice of attrac-tions and possibilities of spending a free time, good accommodation conditions, are only a few from many factors that make the farm exist in the market. One needs to look for the difficulties in running such business mostly in the lack of beneficial but stimulating this service institutional, organizational and financial surfaces. The particular function of help to fully use the potential of the accommo-dation abilities should be given to local authorities, that give the greatest hopes to the hosts of agroturistical farms. The actions in the level of making the quality of the agroturistic product better should lead to making the offers for the one, spe-cific kind of customers. With regards to the advantages of Polish countryside, the basic goal should be the constant orientation on the strong relation between agri-cultural production and agrotourism. ...

Dr Jolanta Cichowska

Dr hab. inż. prof. UTP Andrzej Klimek

Economical situation of analysed agrotour-ist farms Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province as an axample

Conducted research showed, that the development of the agrotourism must be and should be coordinated with institutional actions. It seems to be essential for the comprehensive and professional character of offered services. Without suitable assistance of different kinds of agencies (for example: local authorities, farm tourism associations, federations, etc.), this non-agricultural business activity will be limited to individual lodgings. In the opinion of respondents, local authorities are expected to provide sufficient support, although they admitted that a Centre of the Agricultural Consulting had played the key role in the service activation. A Centre of the Agricultural Consulting organizes courses, workshops, exhibitions and competitions, as well as conducts advisory activities and provides information on the many topics related to the farm-based tourism. However, hosts noticed a lot of shortcomings on this field. They expect the greater initiative in recruiting guests and they would like to receive more help with preparing offers or organizing exhi-bitions and more systematic consulting.The preparation and abilities of contractors to this venture is positively as-sessed. The professionalism is confirmed by using specialist literature or following the example of the experience of other persons dealing with the farm tourism. This all, in combination with an effort of institutions ...

Dr Jolanta Cichowska

Dr hab. inż. prof. UTP Andrzej Klimek

Agrotourism offer of kujawsko-pomorskie province

Presented results of research prove that service providers try to create high quality services. It is showed not only in the offer of attractions, but in caring about customers by arranging their stay, as well. It should be taken into account, that modern consumers expect rest in a nice atmosphere, interests to them, professional advice and a lot of information about the offer, too. The awareness created by service providers that the farms have a good influence on education, makes this non-agricultural income source unique. Suggested investment shows increasing demand for this kind of services.     ...

Dr Jolanta Cichowska

Tthe role of forest and water ponds in development of agrotourist farms services

Based on the obtained studies it was stated that the forest, just after the water basins, is like a magnet very attractive and desirable, and creating new attractions around them is easier. The lack or significant distance of these resources from the farms makes their owners be more creative. Created awareness of the ad-vantageous influence of the natural environment and the countryside on the hu-man's health makes the basis to the conviction that the woods areas will be playing bigger role in building up agricultural packages. The positive role in the educative field has been noticed which may take effect in creating pro-ecological attitudes among the guests using the leisure. ...

Dr Jolanta Cichowska

Dr hab. inż. prof. UTP Andrzej Klimek

Analysis of selected accommodation conditions at agritourism farms based on the method of classification trees

A comparative analysis, using the classification tree method, of typically agritourism and agriculturally inactive farms has been conducted in this paper. An interview questionnaire, carried out on 78 farms, has been applied as a research tool.According to the research, typically agritourism farms evaluated the quality of their own services more positively. However, these factors did not influence the improvement of offer standards. Perhaps they had to invest more often in the development of farms rather than focus on improving the sanitary and hygiene infrastructure. The residential buildings may have not been adapted to undergo redevelopment in that respect.Agriculturally inactive households rarely broadened their knowledge in order to improve accommodation conditions. They had higher standards regardless of the level of hosts' qualifications. Presumably, hosts who focus mainly on agritourism are more likely to improve accommodation conditions. They basically do not have to pay expenses that would be incurred by agricultural activity.The application of the classification tree method has allowed to observe that high self-evaluation of services provided does not always have to result in better sanitary equipment of rooms or possession of living rooms. The method has made it possible to present the examined factors in a simple graphical manner, thus ...

Dr Jolanta Cichowska

Dr hab. inż. prof. UTP Andrzej Klimek

An analysis of contemporary trends in the agritourism market in Poland

The degree of future development of agritourism will be strongly influenced by fashion trends that are dictated by the contemporary market. Changing lifestyles of the society, which manifest themselves in the pursuit of buying greener products and seeking unconventional ways of spending free time will further develop this service. Continuous improvement of service offers and introduction of more interesting forms of recreation that guarantee higher quality of services should become key goals for individuals involved in agritourism. The potential of agritourism is slowly being recognized, although in comparison to other forms of accommodation, still a rather small number of Polish tourists choose it. There is therefore a necessity to develop a marketing plan to make agritourism services more distinguishable on the local and foreign tourism markets. In order for rural areas to develop and to provide rural communities with additional sources of income, it undoubtedly seems necessary to differentiate between rural tourism and agritourism.     ...

Dr Jolanta Cichowska

Information boards as part of the promotion of agrotourism farms

The analysis markings directions to agrotourist farms revealed that they are primarily performed by the owners. The hosts have very ingenious, but not always prefer quality. Bulletin boards, signs, or signs in the shape of arrows, are just some examples used in Kujawy Pomeranian village. The markings make it easy to not only drive visitors to the farm, but they are also a great part of promoting it. Often have small details (such as the image of the fish or horse), referring to the shape of the profile of your business. Unfortunately, only 38.5% of respondents have introduced information signs in their area. Little involvement in the process of their formation may be due to various reasons. Frequently mentioned is the lack of consent to their installation in the area, high costs and lack of awareness of their needs. The hosts promote their offers mainly through the Internet (92.2%), business cards (70.1%) and folders (50.6%) and catalogs (46.7%).They also expect appropriate involvement of local authorities in this type of activity. The study noted that the owners are unhappy with the activities of association of agrotourism. ...

Dr Jolanta Cichowska

Agrotourism product development based on the horseback riding

Few households with Kuyavian-Pomeranian villages build an agrotourist product on a horseback riding. Research has shown that out of 78 respondents only 26.9% of the farm organizes this form of recreation. Two farms had the largest number of horses (over 20). Their farms had the highest level of service. Farms al-so provide different forms of recreation "in the saddle." From individuals learning, to ride with an instructor, camps, sleigh rides, carriage rides. A large group of owners (52.4%) activated the agrotourism with a view that the main attraction will be recreational horse riding. Other hosts (47.6%) organized on their property this kind of physical activity after 3-5 years. It was dictated by identifying and recognizing the market demand for this type of service. According to the respon-dents (71.4%), interest in horse riding is mostly expressed by horse lovers, families and young people in organised groups. Year by year the number of tourists in-creases, so the owners of agritourism farms (23.8%) plan to conduct a series of investments to raise the standard of services and encourage visitors to continue to improve riding skills. ...

Dr Jolanta Cichowska

Names used for creating the image of rural tourist accommodation facilities

Studies conducted among 1417 rural tourist accommodation facilities in Poland have shown that 966 of them have names for their service. Created names most often correspond to the profile of the business. A total of 130 objects specifically suggested that their product is the agritourism, using less sophisticated terms: agritourism, agritourism farm, gite, or expanding it by an additional element, usually referring to the owner's name or surname, plants (clover) or the location of the facility (e.g. in a valley or on a peninsula). There were also names of rural tourism facilities which suggested surroundings of the homestead ("Kraina trzech stawów") or accentuated its regional affiliation ("Czar Roztocza"). Owners often used their names to promote the tourism product for example: "U Basi", U Zochy", "U Kazika" or "U Kowalskich". They were not innovative, as in the case of the names created of parts of owners' names or surnames for example: "Czester". 451 services on the web portal did not have any names, which may cause that their offer will not remain for long in the minds of the potential customers, or will not be noticed at all. It must be emphasized that giving proper, attractive and easy to ...

Dr Jolanta Cichowska

DEMANDS, PREFERENCES AND EXPECTATIONS OF ACADEMIC YOUTH REGARDING RECREATION IN THE FOREST

The survey carried out among university students has proved that they choose the forest as a place to spend their leisure time mostly in the spring (13.2%) and in the summer (21.2%). Students declare that they relaxed in the forest even a few times a week. Apart from recreation (walking - 61.6%, picking mushrooms - 37%), they engage in health improving activities, including sport (29.4%). Young people (especially town dwellers - 40.2%) decide go to the forest to get away from everyday routine (33.9%) in search of peace and quiet surroundings (40.5%). They do not have any specific preferences for the type of forest (50.1%), they feel good in mixed forests (31.9%), however. Since the forms of activity most frequently indicated by students are hiking and biking, they notice poor infrastructure of forest areas (lack of marked hiking routes - 14.3% and bicycle lanes - 12.5%). Respondents are familiar with the condition of forests in the proximity of the place of their residence (81.6%), considering it as basically good (75.9%). However, their knowledge of the natural environment protection forms and fire protection rules is definitely insufficient. ...

Dr Jolanta Cichowska

THE ROLE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN AGRITOURIST ECONOMY

The study shows an analysis of renewable energy sources in terms of their use in agritourist farms. The conducted survey aimed at finding out whether it was the respondents' age, farm size or incomes obtained from different sources that had the biggest impact on decisions to invest in ecological energy media. An answer was provided to the question whether implementation of ecological energy systems was followed by significant reduction in agritourist activity costs. The level of interest in such energy media among farmers who do not use them was assessed. The attitude of agritourist service providers toward more effective utilization of natural resources to the advantage of the natural environment was determined ...

Dr Jolanta Cichowska

BARRIERES TO THE USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN AGRITOURIST FARMS

The study deals with barriers to be overcome by agritourist farm owners who choose to invest in renewable energy sources. Research was done in order to check whether before undertaking the investment they raisedtheir qualifications and used financial means offered by the government. In order to obtain information on the possibilities of ecological technologies development in rural areas, also farmers who do not use ecological energy media were interviewed. Both farmer groups were surveyed for information on development prospects of small technologies in rural areas. Farmers involved in agritourist activity were asked whether undertaking the risk of purchasing ‘green equipment' provided them with measurable benefits. ...

Dr Jolanta Cichowska

NATURAL BUILDING AS AN ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY SOLUTION

The study is supposed to start a series of research on the role of natural building as an environment friendly solution. It includes the results of a survey which was carried out to define the level of university students' ecological awareness of benefits and development prospects of this technology in Poland. Young people were surveyed to find out their knowledge of the solutions based on natural resources available in the environment. It has been established whether positive attitude of students toward the natural environment can find reflection in their approval of eco-building and subsequently, willingness to invest money in construction of such buildings in the future. An important question has been addressed, that is, whether people are interested in houses made of clay, straw or wood an whether they consider them as cheap, durable, modern and esthetic architectural forms. ...