The perspectives of the development of tourism in the areas of geoparks in Poland

Poland has exceptional geotouristic values. There are geoparks there, which create great touristic values of the country and they also create the chance for regional values of the geological heritage to stay alive. The main aim of the investigations was to introduce the possibilities of the development of tourism in the areas of geoparks in Poland as well as to get the information on the subject of geoparks awareness and the possibility of their use in the development of tourism in the region, moreover, to introduce new job opportunities and work places in the residents’ views. The range of the research included the directions of transformations of the existing touristic management and use of the investigated geoparks in the residents’ views as well as the authorities’ activities in order to modify the existing touristic products due to the geoparks promotion and the improvement of their competitiveness in the development of tourism. The spatial range of the research associated with the areas of geoparks included the southern and central areas of the country especially regarding the regions that were rich in geological values. The observations and notations of the touristic movement, moreover, the survey investigations were conducted. The analysis of conditioning in the sphere of geotourism development in the nature reserves in the southern Poland showed that there are really great possibilities of tourism development.