Religious tourism as a perspective for development of rural areas in the Lublin

Abstract

The Lublin province is commonly perceived as a region with dominance of rural areas with rather low level of socio-economic development. The basic drawback of the province is monofunctional character of its economy, orientated towards agriculture. Moreover, regional method of agricultural management can be seen as traditional, little competitive and effective. Additionally, due to poor level of infrastructure and peripheral localization, rural areas have inconsiderable chances to attract industry investments.

All disadvantages, mentioned above, motivate to the search for new ways of development of the rural areas in the province. Both regional and local authorities see opportunities of economic boost in tourism. It is a very frequent conviction that tourism can be efficient solution for overcoming economic difficulties and method of diversification of economy in the agricultural areas which do not have much productive potential.

As for the Lublin province, it must be stated that it possess precious and diverse sources of tourist attractions, both natural and cultural. Among cultural values, the sacred ones are especially significant because they are traces and witnesses of former multicultural and multireligious character of the Lublin region. They are also excellent premises for advance of religious tourism in the rural areas of the region. Thanks to adequate usage of the sacred resources, this kind of economic activity could give extensive benefits for local societies and support varied development of the countryside. Religious tourism can contribute to creating small enterprises and become new sources of income for individual farmers.

But there are some barriers that confine opportunities to develop that kind of tourist movement in the rural areas of the Lublin region. First of all, it is a general weak state of tourist infrastructure including that one connected with pilgrimages centers and other places with sacred buildings and religious events. Besides, there is an evident lack of professional promotion and elaborated tourist offer of products of religious tourism. It seems that this form of tourism is not emphasized strongly enough in regional and local development strategies.

To summarize, there is no doubt that religious tourism can be particular distinguishing mark of the Lublin province and can strengthen economy of the regional rural areas. But considerable potential of sacred values should be suitably exploited, tourist infrastructure must be improved and enlarged and finally thematic tourist products ought to be elaborated. On account of universal benefits, in all those undertakings, local authorities as well as the inhabitants should be involved.