Wioletta Kamińska

Abstract

The research examines the development challenges and current issues faced by agritourism farms, as well as the expectations and needs of tourists visiting the Świętokrzyskie countryside. The aim of the study is to identify the views of agritourism farm owners and tourists regarding the potential for developing tourism functions and the quality of services provided. The Świętokrzyskie region, characterized by high yet underutilized tourism potential, was selected as the study area. The region includes a national park, numerous landscape parks, and nature reserves. It is also noteworthy that the region is located near Poland’s largest cities (Warsaw, Krakow, and Łódź), which generate substantial tourism outflow.

The source materials for this study derive from research conducted by the authors in 2024. A total of 154 agritourism farms were identified, although their spatial distribution is uneven. They are clearly concentrated in areas with high tourist attractiveness and in the vicinity of Kielce, the regional centre. Only 34 service providers responded to the survey aimed at identifying the basic needs and challenges of agritourism farms; the remaining operators, despite repeated attempts to contact them, were not interested in participating. This low level of engagement may indicate limited activity or a lack of confidence in the potential outcomes of such research. Surveys of 288 tourists were conducted at nine selected agritourism farms. The general thematic scope of the survey concerned the frequency, duration, and location of tourist visits to rural areas, assessments of satisfaction with their stay, and detailed opinions and suggestions regarding the use of tourist facilities and infrastructure in the region.

The research confirmed that the Świętokrzyskie region possesses significant and diverse potential for the development of rural tourism, stemming from its natural and cultural assets. Tourists are primarily motivated to visit the region by its high natural values. Cultural and historical heritage further enhances the region’s tourism potential, although it plays a secondary role. This pattern of demand for rural tourism is consistent with findings reported in the international literature.

Tourists visiting the region point to the need for improvements in service quality and surrounding infrastructure, as current shortcomings reduce the comfort of their stay. The most important challenges for service providers remain the lack of financial resources and rising operating costs. Farm owners also highlight investment difficulties, limited access to external funding, and insufficient involvement of local authorities in the development and promotion of rural tourism. At the same time, respondents overwhelmingly express confidence in favourable demand trends and growing interest in agritourism, which confirms the prospects for further growth in the sector.

The research results also indicate substantial variation in the quality of agritourism offerings and a limited use of local cultural resources in the creation of tourism products. This highlights the need to diversify the range of services provided, with particular emphasis on promoting products rooted in regional traditions, local cuisine, and traditional crafts. Non-natural assets should become far more visible to tourists visiting the region and play a stronger role in enhancing the tourism potential of the Świętokrzyskie countryside.

Keywords: agritourism, rural tourism, Świętokrzyskie region, tourist services, tourist expectations

Jerzy Bański [jbanski@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania im. S. Leszczyckiego PAN
Wioletta Kamińska [wioletta.kaminska@ujk.edu.pl], Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego w Kielcach, Instytut Geografii i Nauk o Środowisku

Citation

APA: Bański, J., & Kamińska, W. (2026). Diagnoza gospodarstw agroturystycznych w regionie świętokrzyskim – potrzeby usługodawców a preferencje i oczekiwania turystów. Przegląd Geograficzny, 98(1), 39-58. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2026.1.2
MLA: Bański, Jerzy, and Kamińska, Wioletta. "Diagnoza gospodarstw agroturystycznych w regionie świętokrzyskim – potrzeby usługodawców a preferencje i oczekiwania turystów". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 98, no. 1, 2026, pp. 39-58. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2026.1.2
Chicago: Bański, Jerzy, and Kamińska, Wioletta. "Diagnoza gospodarstw agroturystycznych w regionie świętokrzyskim – potrzeby usługodawców a preferencje i oczekiwania turystów". Przegląd Geograficzny 98, no. 1 (2026): 39-58. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2026.1.2
Harvard: Bański, J., & Kamińska, W. 2026. "Diagnoza gospodarstw agroturystycznych w regionie świętokrzyskim – potrzeby usługodawców a preferencje i oczekiwania turystów". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 98, no. 1, pp. 39-58. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2026.1.2