The tourism attractiveness of the Baltic Sea Region as a destination for Polish tourists Dr Tomasz Studzieniecki Dr Marzena Wanagos Gdynia Maritime University Unity in Baltic diversity Destination - Baltic Sea Region Destination Baltic Sea Region Wojewoda Gdański Henryk Wojciechowski Dyrektor BTC Polska Tomasz Studzieniecki Dyrektor Generalny BTC Arne Ellefors System Tourism Destination Area Tourism Generating Area Destination Source: own concept Attraction City or village – Jantar Commune County Region Crossborder region Country Sea regions Black Sea Baltic Sea Mediterranean Sea EU macroregions EU macroregional strategies Baltic Sea Region 2009 201520142010 Alpine Region Adriatic and Ionian Region Danube Region Tourism a priority Aims and methodology • The authors analysed the tourism image and attractiveness of this Region among Polish tourists. • Students from the Gdynia Maritime University participated in this research. • The research method was a diagnostic survey which was conducted using questionnaires. • The questionnaire contained eight elements, including open and closed questions, allowing to select one or multiple answers from a defined list. Which of the Baltic countries have you ever visited? 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% Denmark Estonia Finland Lithuania Latvia Germany Russia Sweden Nowhere 12% 2% 4% 16% 6% 66% 8% 20% 11% Which of the Baltic countries, is the most attractive for tourists, and which one would you like to visit? How would you assess the elements that relate to the tourismattractiveness of the countries in the Baltic Sea Region? 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Accessibility Prices of services Nature Culture Entertainment very bad bad average good very good I don't know Conclusion 1. Poles know little about the Baltic Sea Region. 2. The Baltic countries are not among their favourite destinations. 3. No intensive promotional campaigns have been conducted in Poland. 4. None of the Baltic countries (apart from Lithuania) have included Poland as a priority market 5. Poor knowledge about the Region combined with lack of motivation to visit the Baltic countries is an obstacle to the Baltic integration Thank you for your attention Visit Baltic Sea Region the first EU macroregion !