Seasonality in Tourism. The Example of Polish Tourism Sector
Seasonality in Tourism. The Example of Polish Tourism Sector

Summary/Abstract: One of the most characteristic features of tourism is a distinct and high seasonality of tourism demand. It constitutes a main problem of the tourism market, there by exerting a significant impact on functioning of tourism enterprises. The seasonality resultsin under-utilisation of resources in enterprises during low season and inability to meet tourism demand during high season. Measurement, analysis and assessment of the seasonality in tourism should serve as a tool for making decisions in tourism enterprises. The aim of the article is to determine the importance of seasonality of tourism demandin Poland. As a result of the conducted analyses a research question was defined which tried to answer whether the seasonality of tourism demand affects the decision of tourism enterprises about number of overnight stays provided by tourist accommodation facilities. The results of analyses should reduce threats resulting from the seasonality of the tourism industry. Empirical research was based on the example of seasonality of tourism demand and its impact on the functioning of tourism enterprises in Poland in2009–2016. In the empirical research, data on the number of tourists and the numberof overnight stays were used in order to analyse and assess the seasonality. Those data have been collected by Central Statistical Office (BDL GUS). The results of seasonality analyses showed that enterprises do not take steps to limit seasonality of overnight stays, despite a large possibility to predict appearance of seasonal number of tourists. That may suggest that seasonality is still treated in tourism as a threat, not an opportunity for the development of tourism industry enterprises.

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