As a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, we are facing challenges of the social and economic crisis. Its effects are difficult to estimate, but the impact on the tourism industry is undeniable. This is also true of the behavior of consumers of tourism services, whose attitudes towards travel are likely to change radically. The aim of the study presented in this article is to determine how Polish tourists have changed their travel plans and the way they organize their travels during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors argue that the pandemic is an inhibitor of tourist activity. Data for the study were collected using an online pilot survey of 190 Polish adults. The first part of the questionnaire included general demographic questions about the respondents. The main part was divided into three sections related to COVID-19 and regarding: 1) changes in their occupational status and financial well-being, 2) their travel plans, and 3) their willingness to use peer-to-peer accommodation (e.g. Airbnb). The results show that the pandemic is not only an inhibitor of tourist activity, but can also trigger the substitution effect in the tourism market. Potential tourists can choose not to buy tourism services and instead spend their money on other forms of leisure (“external” substitution outside the tourist market) or can choose a more competitively priced tourism service (“internal” substitution). The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the financial well-being and occupational status of some respondents and the vast majority of respondents have had to modify or cancel their holiday plans. While the pandemic may help to stimulate domestic tourism, the preference for self-organized holiday trips, expressed by the respondents, herald further problems of tour operators. Although the financial well-being of many respondents has deteriorated, the number of those interested in cheaper accommodation for future trips was much smaller compared to those who reported such a preference before the pandemic.
Purpose. The purpose of the article is to analyse the factors influencing the decision to choose couchsurfing as a manner of accommodation or even a way of organizing an entire stay. The specific objective of the study is to present the connection between the decision of accommodation choice and the lifestyle or to short-term, individual decisions related to fashion and the effect of imitation. Method. Individual in-depth interviews with the couchsurfers (users of Couchsurfing.org) were conducted. Findings. As a result, there was a correlation between the represented lifestyle and the way of organizing the visit with couchsurfing. The fashion and effect of imitation are not relevant and do not affect the choice of couchsurfing as a way of accommodation in the case of experienced people who used it more than once. Research and conclusions limitation. The exploratory character of the study and the small sample size are the limitation and do not allow to formulate general conclusions about couchsurfing. Practical implications. The analysis can determine further research on lifestyle as a factor influencing the choice of accommodation in the area of collaborative consumption. Originality. The individualization and personalization of tourism services can be observed. Couchsurfing is the manifestation of this phenomenon. It is based on mutual hospitality (free accommodation) and helps to buildrelationships between people. Previous studies did not verify the impact of fashion and the effect of imitation on the use of couchsurfing. Type of paper. This article presents the results of empirical research.
Purpose. Description - based on the review of Polish and English literature - of some controversial categories of travel included in medical tourism and known as circumvention tourism. The following types of “tourism” were analyzed: abortion, fertility, suicide, FGM (female genital mutilation) as well as transplant and surgical reassignment surgery tourism. We also undertook an attempt to outline the profile and the motives of participants of such trips. Method. A critical literature review. Findings. Circumvention tourism is a category of medical tourism and includes the abroad travel of patients (medical tourists) for services that are illegal in the country of the medical tourist. The most important factors of circumvention tourism development are: legal regulations, advances in transport and ICT, the development of medicine and changing consumer lifestyles. The participants are usually from developed countries and have a stable financial situation. On the other hand, the profile differs according to the type of travel (subcategory) in which they participate. The main motivations of tourists are: circumvention of legal restrictions, privacy, long waiting lists and fear of stigmatization. Practical implications. The analysis can determine further research regarding circumvention tourism. Originality. The analysis concerns circumvention tourism, which despite an increase in research on the phenomenon of medical tourism is still unexplored and a difficultly assessed area. Type of paper. A review article.
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