Spatial diversification of foreign tourist traffic in Poland

The article aims to assess the territorial distribution of foreign tourist traffic in Poland and identification of provinces similar with respect to the inbound tourism structure considering the tourists’ country of origin. The analysis used well-known methods of taxonomic analysis. Foreign tourists’ arrivals to Poland are to a great extent spatially diversified. The leading provinces concerning the number of accommodated tourists are Mazowieckie and Małopolskie. The next ones, in view of the intensity of the analysed phenomenon, are the provinces of the western wall, except Lubuskie. The provinces situated mainly on the eastern wall proved to be the least numerously visited by foreign tourists. It should be also noticed that German tourists were particularly fond of the Zachodniopomorskie and Dolnośląskie provinces. Tourists from the other analyzed countries use bed places mostly in the area of the Mazowieckie and Malopolskie provinces. Russian, Ukrainian and Lithuanian tourists provide an exception, since they also travel to Podkarpackie (Ukraine), Lubuskie (Russia and Lithuania) and Dolnośląskie provinces (Russia). Obtained classification of the provinces allowed to divide them into six groups, characterized by a similar structure of foreign tourists using sleeping facilities, but also similar in view of intensity of inbound tourism. The presented results reveal a considerable degree of generality, but still they may provide an example of a simple instrument for conducting similar but more detailed studies adjusted to specific needs.