Tourism in Central Europe: A comparison of the Regions of Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia with Other European Countries in Year 2000

This article analyses the evolution of foreign tourism in Central Europe during the period 1991-2002, in comparison with other EU countries, and the distribution of foreign and domestic tourism at regional level in Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia, as well as in the Baltic countries and in two East European countries: Bulgaria and Romania . After an upwards trend for 1991-96, the real value of receipts per inhabitant from foreign tourism in Central Europe have decreased during the period 1996-2002, but there are perspectives for further increases in the next years. Towards a regional development policy in these countries the positive effects of foreign and domestic tourism should be had into account, together with other relevant factors, in order to increase employment and reach real convergence with the EU average.