Part two

Ever since the department was opened Łódź geographers have been working on the definitions of the terms used in tourism studies. The very rapid development of tourism as a spatial, economic and social phenomenon on the one hand, and the fact that representatives of many other disciplines have joined its study on the other, has caused increasing terminological chaos. Attempts to define new tourism phenomena have been made for many years at conferences organized by the Geography of Tourism Department and published in the journal "Turyzm". Some conclusions of these discussions have been presented in a work by BACHVAROV & DZIEGIEĆ (2005) devoted to the relationship between "recreation" and "tourism".

The contribution of geographers in creating the theoretical and methodological basis for tourism geography and, indirectly, other subjects dealing with tourism (ALEJZIAK 2005) seems considerable. The model for research into tourism, the concept of tourism urbanization or the general concept of tourism space have gained a permanent place in Polish geography and are also used by representatives of other tourism-related subjects. They have been used in many empirical studies of tourism and not only in the Łódź geography centre. The original approach to the notion of a tourism region, as well as attempts to define the terms introduced by tourism researchers, have won the centre recognition beyond Poland.

The earliest research concerned the identification and analysis of the tourism function in different areas and regions and has continued at the department ever since. Naturally, most of this research concerns the rural-urban fringe zone of Łódź which has become the research area for many members of staff and undergraduates. It was initiated in an unpublished PhD thesis by MATCZAK (1982) based on a complex empirical study in which the author defined the range and forms of the recreational function of the rural-urban fringe zone of Łódź. It should be noticed that his was the first research carried out on such a scale in Poland and its results were a true revelation at that time. The recreational function of this area was also explored by STEJSKAŁ (1992) who investigated the first country residences of the Łódź bourgeoisie, and in two PhD theses (WŁODARCZYK 1999, SZKUP 2003), whose authors analysed in great detail the spatial forms of tourism activity in the margins of the Łódź Uplands (Wyżyna Łódzka), as well as the transformations (through the process of diffusion) of rural-urban recreational space in the western part of the zone.

The development and consequences of the tourism function have also been studied in legally protected areas i.e. national and landscape parks. Detailed research has been conducted in the national parks of the Polish Western Carpathians (KRAKOWIAK 2000), in the świętokrzyski National Park (WŁODARCZYK 1993) and in the Starohorske Vrchy mountains in Slovakia (ČUKA 1998). As far as lowlands are concerned, the Biebrzanski National Park (PISARSKA 1995) and the Załęczański Landscape Park (CHROSTOWSKA & WILUś 1992) have been studied. The aim of all these was to discover if the co-existence of both conservation and tourism functions is possible, and show the conflicts which arise as a result of growing mass tourism in protected areas.

Part three

The third type of landscape area where the occurrence, effects and development prospects of the tourism function have been examined, are the valleys of major rivers. This type of research is represented well by two works: one by WILUś (1997), who studied the development of the tourism function in the middle section of the Warta Valley, and a collection of articles edited by LISZEWSKI (2003) devoted to the potential development of tourism in the Odra Valley. This is an example of a study from different perspectives conducted by geographers in order to indicate not only how attractive a studied area is and to whom (in the case of the Odra Valley its whole length within Polish borders to the sea), but also what should be done to promote the development of tourism as a mass phenomenon bringing measurable economic results. The work won a national competition organized by the Academic Research Committee (Komitet Badań Naukowych), the Ministry for the Environment (Ministerstwo środowiska) and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Resources (Fundusz Ochrony środowiska i Gospodarki Wodnej).

The next research trend which resulted in several PhD theses and numerous articles and MA theses, concerns the changes to geographical space caused by tourism development. The authors of these works place them in the framework of the theoretical concepts mentioned above i.e. tourism space and tourism urbanization.

These works began with a thorough study by WOJCIECHOWSKA (1988) devoted to the tourist colonisation of the areas in the Pilica Valley. The author investigated the colonisation process of the river valley by centres set up for tourism and recreational purposes. A similar work, but concerning Roztocze, is the PhD thesis written by KAROLCZAK (2002), where using the concept of tourism space, the author identified the different stages of its emergence. Also WŁODARCZYK (1999), in his work mentioned earlier, not only followed the development of tourism space in the margins of the Łódź Upland, but also identified and presented a model of a tourism area development cycle. The most recent research was carried out by MAJCHER (2005) in her PhD thesis and concerned the development of tourism space in the Upper Silesian Conurbation.

The authors of these works empirically tested the concept of tourism space in areas differing from one another both naturally and anthropogenically. Wojciechowska identified tourism colonisation space in the upland areas of Roztocze, Włodarczyk did the same in the rural-urban fringe zone of Łódź, and Majcher in the largest Polish industrial conurbation. These empirical studies confirm the theoretical concept of tourism space, with some modifications. The concept of tourism urbanization was verified by MAKOWSKA-ISKIERKA (2004). Following the development and transformation of the tourism-recreational function in the "garden settlement" of Sokolniki (set up in the interwar period) she concluded that as a result of the changing political and economic situation this former recreational estate for the inhabitants of Łódź is being transformed into a residential district. This demonstrates the fact that in these particular conditions the recreational function is being forced out and the area is becoming fully urbanized.

Part four

The department can also boast considerable achievements in terms of the study of tourism and recreational settlement analysed from both the morphological and functional points of view. The basic work analysing the morphology of a recreational settlement was written by MATCZAK (1984) who defined and analysed the morphological types of residential estates in the rural-urban fringe zone. His typology has been often referred to in other research and in MA theses. Also the analysis of the fishing villages of Chałupy and Kuźnica and their morphological changes presented by DZIEGIEĆ (1988) became exemplary for many researchers. Interesting studies of small tourism and recreational destinations were presented in a series of monographs: Jastrzębia Góra (WILUś 1988), Mrągowo (OLSZEWSKA 1989), Spała (LISZEWSKI 1991) and Kazimierz Dolny (OLSZEWSKA 1991). The authors demonstrated the method of morphological analysis (Jastrzębia Góra), as well as showing the role of tourism in the economic life of small towns (Kazimierz Dolny) where tourism is often the basis for development.

A classic example of a monograph about a town with a tourism function is the collection of articles edited by LISZEWSKI (1989) devoted to Augustów. The authors explored different aspects of the tourism function of the town (land use, measurements of tourism activity, economic analysis, market analysis). It is the most comprehensive study of the influence of tourism as both an external and internal factor in the development and functioning of a town. In the same way we also find a study of the tourism development of Kartuzy (KACZMAREK & LISZEWSKI 1989) based mainly on an analysis of the tourism activity in this town. The development of recreational settlements around Łódź was studied by LISZEWSKI (1989) who also attempted a classification of tourism settlements (LISZEWSKI 1991).

Morphological and functional analyses of settlements have so far mainly concerned villages and small towns, touching only slightly larger cities. It seems that the experience gained is a good foundation for extending research to large urban areas, both for receiving and "sending out" large groups of tourists. Attempts to study large cities as tourism space made at the department promise interesting results.

Interest in large cities is reflected in yet another study area: the "holiday space" of city inhabitants. This sort of research is based on an analysis of leisure time and its use, and involving the application of very difficult survey and questionnaire methods. At the department two PhD theses on this issue have been written, both on Łódź. LATOSIŃSKA (1998) described the holiday space of Łódź university lecturers, and KOWALCZYK-ANIOŁ (2006), choosing a historical approach, presented the "holiday space" of three generations of Łódź inhabitants. Both these works are very interesting and encourage others to explore this topic further. It is worth mentioning that the first large-scale research into this issue was carried out at the department in the 1980s by DZIEGIEĆ & LISZEWSKI (1985), and was referred to by later researchers when exploring the spatial behaviour of Łódź citizens during the holiday season.

Part five

Culture tourism has not been such a prominent research area at the department, but where found concerned the tourist function of castles, museums and, recently, cemeteries. The role of castles as tourism destinations is the subject of several MA theses and parts of some have been published. We should mention here research conducted on the castles in Malbork (KOSTRZEWA 1991) and Kórnik (PIETRZAK 1994), as well as a very interesting study of the tourism function of the Royal Palace in Warsaw (PLUTA 1994). More detailed research was conducted as regards museums which were the subject of two PhD theses. STASIAK (1999) carried out an analysis of all open-air museums in Poland, defining their tourism function and the role this function plays in the life and economy of the museum locations. Another type of museum was described by RODACKA (2001) who analysed the importance and tourism attractiveness of biographical museums in Poland using ranking measures for a detailed analysis of tourism activity. A new theme in culture tourism is cemeteries which nowadays perform a variety of functions that includes tourism (TANAś 2004). A cemetery, due to the variety of its elements such as architecture, greenery, monuments, and above all the function of being the burial site of renowned academics, artists, politicians and others, often becomes a significant tourism site and destination.

The most recent research trends at the department concern the geography of the hotel business and tourism infrastructure. Interest in these issues results from two facts. The first is the need to analyse accommodation infrastructure as such accommodation is the actual place where tourists stay and where it is easiest to identify the scale and directions of tourism. The analysis of accommodation in Łódź published by MATCZAK (1998) was based on this assumption. The other reason for the development of this theme is the worldwide hotel globalisation which results in certain functional and organizational hotel structures, conquering more and more of global tourist space. Hotel systems, chains or other structures are an inseparable part of global tourist accommodation and often determine the appearance of new tourism spaces (WŁODARCZYK 2003).

We should also mention here the detailed studies of hotel location in some Central and East European capitals (Warsaw, Prague, Budapest, Sofia). A collection of articles edited by MATCZAK (2004) bringing together the results of this research is a very interesting attempt to find regularities in the location of hotels in large cities. Issues in hotel geography are also the subjects of two PhD theses. GRZELAK (2002) approached the changes which have taken place in the accommodation infrastructure that used to belong to Łódź light industries. After they closed, this accommodation changed ownership, standards and clients. The author of the other thesis was ROUBA (2005) who analysed the distribution of former manors, palaces and castles in Poland and presented the ways they have been used for tourism purposes as accommodation, museums etc. This research brought interesting results showing for example that only a small number are presently used by their former owners and that, though located in unattractive areas, they nowadays create a new tourism space due to their history.

In conclusion to this summary we should mention the work by GRZELKA (1996) who undertook a chronological of study of tourist agents (1981-1994) as an element of tourism in Łódź.

The above review of the main research trends followed at the department over the last 25 years, and the publications which have been mentioned (books, PhD theses, articles) and which illustrate the main interests, obviously do not fully present all the work. We have mentioned only a few out of hundreds of MA theses in which basic empirical studies or empirical verifications of theoretical concepts were often included. Today the overall number of publications on tourism geography by researchers from the department can be counted in hundreds. They are all listed in Sześćdziesišt lat geografii w Uniwersytecie Łódzkim (2005) (Sixty Years of Geography at the University of Łódź). In conclusion to this part of the article I would like to add that for the whole 25 years, apart from academic research, the teachers and students of the Department of Urban Geography and Tourism have been involved in activities related to practical tourism. Two tourist guidebooks have been published: one describes Łódź and the surrounding area (LISZEWSKI 1982) and the other the świętokrzyskie Mountains and Sandomierz (KRAKOWIAK, SKRZYPCZYŃSKI & WŁODARCZYK 2001). Also Słownik geograficzno-turystyczny gminy Kórnik (Tourist and Geographical Handbook on the gmina of Kórnik) has appeared in print (POTOCKA 2001) based on an MA thesis, and a collection of articles by members of the Student Tourism Geographers Society (Studenckiego Koła Naukowego Geografów Turyzmu), on Łódź Województwo (KRONENBERG, JONAS, MROZIAK, SUDOWSKA & BARA 2005). These publications confirm the continuity of interest among Łódź geographers which started over 65 years ago when the guide by Dylik was published.