Determination of selected aspects of canoeing tourism potential in Warmia and Mazury using geoinformation tools

Abstract

The objective of the paper was to conduct a spatial analysis in order to assess the potential of canoeing in Warmia and Mazury region. The input spatial data consisted of files presenting a network of watercourses and address points, downloaded from the website of the Main Geodetic and Cartographic Documentation Centre. Thematic data on canoeing was collected from the Internet which was assumed to be the main information source for potential tourists. Information about companies offering canoeing in Warmia and Mazury was collected from 78 websites. Information from those portals was used to create a thematic database, spatially referenced using the address database. The combined spatial and descriptive data constituted the basis for further research. The analysis involved the assessment of capacity and accessibility of canoeing.
The results provided information allowing to assess the canoeing potential in the region of Warmia and Mazury. Basing on data presented on the websites, it has been counted that sixty-four waterways (rivers and canals) offer canoeing. The distance to the nearest canoeing company from anywhere in the region does not exceed 35 km. The companies are located in the neighbourhood of the most attractive river sections of: Krutynia, Łyna, Wel, Sapina, Drwęca, Ełk, Marózka, Omulew etc.. There is a considerable number of companies offering canoeing and these are mainly companies operating locally since half of them promotes a single river. On the basis of the analysis it can be concluded that the region of Warmia and Mazury has a great potential for the tourists interested in paddle sport. Thus, canoeing has to be promoted and developed, as it is reflected in the results.