Planning the Fishing Service Tourism Product Development Based on Endogenous Values. Example of the Szczecinek County (Poland)

Abstract

The article provides an overview of issues related to planning the development of local service space, with particular emphasis on the implementation of tourist services and the local tourist fishing product based on local endogenous resources, in particular water, mainly in the form of lakes and rivers. The study covered the area of the Szczecinek County located in the Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship. The following research methods were used in the article: survey, descriptive, focused group interviews, strategic documents analysis and SWOT analysis. The article indicates important elements that distinguish the Szczecinek County as a fishing area, inventory of water resources was carried out and the most important barriers to the development of this type of service products were indicated. Research conducted in the Szczecinek County has shown that it is an area predestined for the development of this type of tourist products, however, a clear institutional commitment of county authorities, individual communes and county organisations is required. Thanks to their endogenous resources, counties of this type can successfully perform service functions in the field of tourism. Research carried out for the purposes of this article is a supplement to similar research conducted in connection with the development of tourism in other communes and counties of the Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship.