150
A. Panasiuk
quality level in a certain time perspective (Avgostis and Achana 2002). Problems
that take into account the quality of air in the perception of tourists are of a longterm nature and directly affect the assessment of tourist destinations and decisions
of arrivals to cities,andis confirmed by research conducted in Europe (Arbul et al.
2015; Katircioglu et al. 2014) and China (Dong et al. 2019; Zhang et al. 2015; Xu
and Reed 2019; Ahmad et al. 2018), as well as in other countries (Ng et al. 2016).
Therefore, reduced air quality can influence decisions related to tourist arrivals in
cities and require action from local authorities to limit the negative impact of smog on
urban tourism economy through measures to improve air quality in the short and long
term. At the same time, it should be emphasized that, especially in European cities,
low air quality is particularly relevant to the autumn–winter periodwhen intensive
pollution is emitted related to the heating of houses, flats and buildings operated
by enterprises and institutions, in addition to emissions of industrial and transport
pollution occurring with varying intensity throughout the year.
The study of air pollution’s impact on inbound tourism in cities concerns the
decisions of tourist trips to cities by potential tourists. The survey was conducted in
2019 on a sample of 509 people living in various regions of Poland, aged 18–75. The
respondents were asked about the impact of the state of air pollution on decisions
regarding domestic and foreign tourist trips to cities, separating business and private
trips. They indicated that air quality is taken into account only to a small extent when
planning tourist trips. Less than 4% of the respondents said that they are always
interested in information on the subject of air quality before traveling to cities, and
about 17% only sometimes. At the same time, this kind of information is a little
more sought after for private trips rather than for business ones. In relation to trips
to cities in Poland, about 5% of respondents said that they are always looking for
such information, 18.5%sometimes, and when traveling abroad, 2.5% always, and
15.5% sometimes. Almost 55% of respondents have never checked such information,
and about 25% have not even thought about it. In the case of trips with children,
interest in information on the level of air quality when traveling to Polish cities
increases to 7%. However, in the case of foreign cities, only 1% of respondents
checked such information. Much more interest in the state of air quality in urban
tourist destinations was indicated by tourists taking long-term private trips (over
1 month)—13% (Łapko et al. 2020). Basing on the selected research results, it is
difficult to draw clear conclusions. The growing problem of smog in many Polish
cities has not so far significantly affected the purchasing decisions related to urban
tourism. On the other hand, however, it should be noted that the consumers perceive
theproblem. This is not supported by the results of empirical research but based on
conversations with travel agents selling tourist packages, such as to cities in China
where customers inquire about smog in cities that are potential destinations. After
an agent points outpoor air conditions in a particular city, customers decide against
such a destination and look for another offer.
Both case studies on threats to sustainable urban tourism cover two aspects:
• the impact of tourist service on the urban natural environment, and
A. Panasiuk
quality level in a certain time perspective (Avgostis and Achana 2002). Problems
that take into account the quality of air in the perception of tourists are of a longterm nature and directly affect the assessment of tourist destinations and decisions
of arrivals to cities,andis confirmed by research conducted in Europe (Arbul et al.
2015; Katircioglu et al. 2014) and China (Dong et al. 2019; Zhang et al. 2015; Xu
and Reed 2019; Ahmad et al. 2018), as well as in other countries (Ng et al. 2016).
Therefore, reduced air quality can influence decisions related to tourist arrivals in
cities and require action from local authorities to limit the negative impact of smog on
urban tourism economy through measures to improve air quality in the short and long
term. At the same time, it should be emphasized that, especially in European cities,
low air quality is particularly relevant to the autumn–winter periodwhen intensive
pollution is emitted related to the heating of houses, flats and buildings operated
by enterprises and institutions, in addition to emissions of industrial and transport
pollution occurring with varying intensity throughout the year.
The study of air pollution’s impact on inbound tourism in cities concerns the
decisions of tourist trips to cities by potential tourists. The survey was conducted in
2019 on a sample of 509 people living in various regions of Poland, aged 18–75. The
respondents were asked about the impact of the state of air pollution on decisions
regarding domestic and foreign tourist trips to cities, separating business and private
trips. They indicated that air quality is taken into account only to a small extent when
planning tourist trips. Less than 4% of the respondents said that they are always
interested in information on the subject of air quality before traveling to cities, and
about 17% only sometimes. At the same time, this kind of information is a little
more sought after for private trips rather than for business ones. In relation to trips
to cities in Poland, about 5% of respondents said that they are always looking for
such information, 18.5%sometimes, and when traveling abroad, 2.5% always, and
15.5% sometimes. Almost 55% of respondents have never checked such information,
and about 25% have not even thought about it. In the case of trips with children,
interest in information on the level of air quality when traveling to Polish cities
increases to 7%. However, in the case of foreign cities, only 1% of respondents
checked such information. Much more interest in the state of air quality in urban
tourist destinations was indicated by tourists taking long-term private trips (over
1 month)—13% (Łapko et al. 2020). Basing on the selected research results, it is
difficult to draw clear conclusions. The growing problem of smog in many Polish
cities has not so far significantly affected the purchasing decisions related to urban
tourism. On the other hand, however, it should be noted that the consumers perceive
theproblem. This is not supported by the results of empirical research but based on
conversations with travel agents selling tourist packages, such as to cities in China
where customers inquire about smog in cities that are potential destinations. After
an agent points outpoor air conditions in a particular city, customers decide against
such a destination and look for another offer.
Both case studies on threats to sustainable urban tourism cover two aspects:
• the impact of tourist service on the urban natural environment, and