LEVEL OF TOURIST FUNCTION IN THE COUNTIES OF THE WEST POMERANIAN VOIVODESHIP

Abstract

The aim of the study is to assess the diversity of the tourism function in the counties of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The level of the tourism function in the counties of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship was determined by constructing a synthetic index based on four diagnostic features (the Baretje-Defert index, the accommodation density index, the Schneider index, and the Baretje index). The numerical data comes from the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office (GUS) from 2024. The hypothesis that the tourism function develops unevenly across the voivodeship was confirmed, despite numerous tourist attractions throughout the area. The counties were divided into four classes with varying levels of tourism development. Class I includes counties with a high level of tourism development, associated with a coastal location. In the area of ​​class II, the average level of tourism development results from the presence of both natural and anthropogenic assets. The low level of the tourism function in class III is associated with the untapped potential of tourist attractions. Class IV includes counties with a very low level of development of the tourist function, where other economic functions dominate.