Tourism and recreation as areas of collaboration between local governments and Gorce National Park

The objective of this study was to indicate the actions undertaken by the authorities of the Gorce National Park to boost the development of tourism and recreation, highlight fields for cooperation with local government bodies, and evaluate this cooperation as well as identifying problems, and to develop a strategy for developing tourism and recreation in the study area.The result of the survey indicated that both local government officials and the national park authorities generally view positively, the joint actions undertaken. The majority of gmina and poviat representatives work, together with park employees, on the implementation of tasks aimed at developing tourism and recreational activities. In the survey, numerous advantages of having a national park in the given local government area were listed, including the increased attractiveness of the area to tourists. The disadvantages mentioned included, primarily, restrictions on investments. In the Gorce National Park hiking, biking, equestrian, and ski tourism are promoted. In the surrounding areas the model of tourism should be developed in line with the principle of sustainable development, taking into account the opinions and needs of local residents. A regional partnership for tourism and creation of tourist products should be formed, centred on the national park. To date, an integrated offer to tourists and joint promotion activities of the gminas situated around the Gorce National Park are lacking. Also necessary are investments in recreational facilities in the nearby villages.