The level of interest in the Wielkopolska Windmill Trail and its development forecast

The Wielkopolska Windmill Trail is a new product of industrial tourism. It has been established in order to protect historical mills and to make the regions more attractive in terms of tourism. It is the largest windmill trail in Europe. The study aims at checking the level of knowledge of the population in the Poznań area about this route and determining the level of their interest in historical mills, and, in consequence, the forecast of its development. Based on the questionnaire survey performed among people of the Poznań area in April of 2013, there is a clear interest in the mechanisms of operation of historical mills, which demonstrates an increase of popularity of industrial tourism. Nevertheless, the level of knowledge about the route is very low. Promotional elements to disseminate knowledge about the route are missing – things such as: guidebooks, tourist leaflets, or information boards. Further development is subject mainly to the popularity of the route and publicity among potential tourists. Knowledge disseminated in the form of lectures, cultural events, but mainly folders and guidebooks, is a key to success.