Agritourism in a metropolis: the state and possibility of development in the opinion of Poznan residents

By definition, agritourism is connected with rural areas and farming. It is a desirable direction in the development of tourist services, as an alternative to mass recreational tourism, which diversifies economic activities performed in the countryside and sources of income of farms. Analyses of the determinants and level of development of agritourism show those services in Poland to be growing in significance, especially in areas traditionally attractive in tourist terms, and as a development opportunity for peripheral rural areas. Due to their multi-functionality and a high level of urbanisation, metropolitan areas are not suitable for agritourism. However, the agritourist accommodation base around large cities is fairly well developed, primarily offering sleeping facilities for guests from outside and working out an ever-improving special ‘metropolitan’ recreational-leisure time offer for its own residents. As survey research conducted among the inhabitants of the Poznań metropolis has demonstrated, their interest in agritourism is quite strong, although this does not hold true for agritourism in areas surrounding the city. This is largely due to their relatively poor awareness of tourist attractions located near Poznań and of the other services besides sleeping that agritourist farms can offer.