Development of rural tourism and agritourism Experience of the past 20 years

1. 3rd International Conference AGROTRAVEL Kielce, 15-16 April 2011 Development of rural tourism and agritourism Experience of the past 20 years Elżbieta Wyrwicz Department of Tourism

2. Holidays in the countryside have a long tradition in Poland • stays in spas and country manors • countryside sightseeing excursions • Workers Holiday Fund • the Jabłońkis welcome the Matysiaks • holidays under a pear tree

3. 1991-2011 • 5 October 1991 • Registration of the Suwałki Agriculture and Tourism Chamber, Poland’s first organization of agritourism service providers • 15 April 2011 • 3rd International Conference AGROTRAVEL in Kielce

4. Agritourism - a modern incarnation of holidays in the countryside The farm owners are independent service providers Women play a great role in the development of agritourism

5. Three phases in the development of agritourism between 1991 and 2011 • “Convince, teach and facilitate” • “It is easier, better and cheaper to band together” • “Quality is paramount”

6. Convince meetings Teach training courses elimination of barriers Facilitate

7. It’s easier together associations It’s better together market research It’s cheaper together joint marketing

8. Standardization QUALITY JAKOŚĆ Specialization Regionalism

9. PHARE –TOURIN programme as a significant stimulus in the development of rural tourism between 1992 and 1999 Rural tourism, including agritourism as a premium tourism product Implementation of the „Training strategy for rural tourism” Institutional support – establishment of an organization which supports and coordinates entities involved in the organization of rural tourism, Development and pilot implementation of the Rural Accommodation Infrastructure Assessment System, Preparation of service providers for operation in the European Union

10. 2002 – 2011: another chapter in the support of rural tourism development Diversification of economic activities in rural areas under the SAPARD programme Sectoral Operational Programme „Restructuring and modernization of the food sector and rural areas development 2004-2006” Rural Areas Development Programme 2007-2013

11. Non-agricultural business activity about 450 000 farms Około 450 000 gospodarstw rolnych 1.3 % of farms involved in non-agricultural business activities have declared they provide agri-tourism services 5473 farms in 2009 Source: Central Statistical Office

12. REJESTROWANA BAZA NOCLEGOWA W POLSCE Source: GUS data

13. Source: Central Statistical Office

14. Positive impact of rural tourism on rural development in Poland New jobs Attractive professions New forms of cooperation Rural tourism New quality of life New image of the countryside

15. Near Future Development of recommendations on the instruments of support for rural tourism which should be included in the 2014-2020 EU financial perspective.

16. ANOTHER SUCCESS ENTHUSIASM SELF-CONFIDENCE OPTIMISM SUCCESS

17. I would like to thank you for twenty years of cooperation and wish you every success in developing rural tourism in Poland! www.msport.gov.pl