Prospects for the development of slow tourism in Podkarpacie Province

Abstract

Due to its location, natural and cultural potential and the needs of a conscious tourist for a tourist product based on the slow principles, the Podkarpackie Province may in the future be the main destination for a selected group of recipients. Currently, many owners of rural accommodation facilities are expanding their offer with attractions related to mindfulness, such as contemplation in the surroundings of nature, sauna baths, and the possibility of spending the night in the open air. The offer is diverse, which gives the prospect of participation to both customers who prefer agritourism and newer forms, e.g. glamping. In addition, there have appeared offers of socially engaged tourism, in which the tourist has the opportunity to closely interact with the host of the attraction or the local community. The examples of implementing tourist services in the slow tourism trends described in the article constitute a model for searching for a new forms of recreation that contribute to the retardation of negative changes in the natural and socio-cultural environment.