Eco-tourist and ecological farms as a factor of tourism development within the protected areas of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship

Abstract

The development of the farm tourism and ecological farms in Poland has become significant over the past few years, which calls for the necessity to deal with this issue urgently. The main driving force of the farm tourism development is searching for additional sources of income by farm manufacturers. The farm tourism does not only mean income for the farmer himself who provides services, but it also means development of the related areas, such as: folk handicraft, processing, services of different kinds, astronomy, commerce. As a consequence, it will lead to the occupational urbanisation of villagers and labour market enrichment whereas ecological economy is the natural background for the farm tourism. Apart from the social benefits, the economic ones can be distinguished as well. Tourist economy development creates an alternative for extra-farming employment and ecological manufacture development within the agricultural regions.