Działalność wybranych polskich biur podróży w Greater Toronto Area
Activities of Selected Polish Travel Agencies in the Greater Toronto Area

Summary/Abstract: Establishment and development of travel agencies should be associated with the vigorous development of tourist traffic in the first half of the 19th century. Under the influence of progressing industrialisation, technical and organisational progress supporting increased labour productivity and gradual shortening of working time, statutory introduction of paid leaves and higher incomes of the population, changes in the structure of population consumption took place, which manifested in the emergence of new needs in terms of relaxation and tourism. Intensity of the interest and financial possibilities of potential tourists resulted in the formation of travel agencies that dealt with satisfying newly created needs, consisting in providing offers regarding tourism and leisure (Cook, 2008). The article discusses the activities of the Polish travel agencies in the Greater Toronto Area which undoubtedly influence selected tourist destinations of the residents of this city. Data that was collected from 18 out of 23 travel agencies operating in the area covered by the research was presented. The research was carried out in 2017 and 2018, and thanks to the data from travel agencies, destinations that are most frequently chosen by Poles, the number of clients, the amount of money spent by them, as well as the specificity of functioning of Polish travel agencies in Toronto were described. The article presents the characteristics of the largest and most-active Polish travel agencies in Toronto, such as: Piast Travel Inc., Orbis Vacations & Travel LTD., Polimex Travel, and Queen Syrena Travel, their specific forms of travel organisation (especially travel to Poland) and pilgrimage trips offered by travel agencies.

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