Importance of forest resources in health tourism - Wigierski National Park case study

The aim of this study was to identify the motives of visits in the Wigierski National Park (north-eastern Poland), which were focused on health and regeneration of vitality by inhabitants of Suwalki. Knowledge about the influence of forest environment on health was also investigated. The quota sampling was used to determine the sample size and number of respondents was determined proportionally to the level of education and age of people surveyed. We used discriminant analysis to determine which variables stood out in four analysed age groups. Recreational and tourism as well as therapeutic opportunities, to a great extent, are not just noticed by respondents, but also applied by them in their daily life. Respondents appreciated the healing effect of the forest environment on people, on their physical and mental needs. Such attitude was achieved thanks to widely conducted education, which enhanced such aspects as medical properties of forests and their role in health prevention. Respondents declared the need for visiting actively forest areas for leisure and health reasons. Respondents particularly emphasized a possibility of health improvement, even more than a desire to enjoy anthropogenic attractions of the Wigierski National Park. Taking into account tourists' needs that are aimed at leisure and health, as well as appreciating non-productive importance of forests, it is recommended that the State Forests, through supervision and adequate infrastructure, should strive for the most convenient way to make forest environment available for people. It was also applied for protecting forest resources in order to maintain their sustainability for present and future generations. It was stated that the promotion of active leisure in connection with natural forest environment is a new way of life, especially applied by residents of large urban agglomerations. Such promotion is also a key task of public authorities and various organizations related to ecology and health. A special role is attributed to tourism and recreation organizers, but most of all to the State Forests, which are the main administrator of this forest area.