TOURISM COMPETITIVENESS AND ATTRACTIVENESS OF MUNICIPALITIES IN MAZOWIECKIE PROVINCE LOCATED AROUND THE LIWIEC RIVER

Tourism is an example of the economy branches which are displaying the most dynamic growth. As an interdisciplinary field, it enables both sectors connected with developing the tourism product, that is accommodation and catering, and entities which offer goods and services to make profits. Pursuant to the “Birds Directive”, the Liwiec River Valley has become part of Natura 2000 with the code PLB 140002. The area encompasses the Liwiec River valley, from its source to the estuary into the Bug River, including meadows and flood pastures formed from drained bog. Natural and cultural value of the Liwiec River Valley render it suitable for the development of various tourism forms. Until recently, summer tourism was the dominant form but now agritourism has gained popularity, too. The competitiveness of communes located around the Liwiec River was conditioned by both the attractiveness of the natural environment and the quality of accommodation facilities. A precise assessment of tourist competitiveness is quite complicated and to a large degree depends on the set of selected variables which reflect the tourist attractiveness of the communes examined.