Suburban zones as recreation and tourism reception areas for inhabitants of Polish metropolises

The aim of the article is to characterise suburban zones, particularly as area performing recreational and tourist functions for inhabitants of large cities (metropolises). The study presents goals and motivations, frequency and duration of recreational and tourist activity undertaken in suburban areas based on information collected from a representative group of Polish urban dwellers. The study is based on a review of the literature, the author’s observations and survey results. Essential quantitative data were obtained from a survey conducted on a representative sample of the Polish population carried out on the end of 2014 using the standardized questionnaire survey method as part of the Omnibus Express service (CATI). Most respondents contacted in the survey undertook tourist and recreational activity in the suburban zone every day or almost every day, usually accompanied by other family members. Their main intention was to rest and enjoy some recreational activities, visit relatives or friends and stay on summer holiday plots. The choice of the suburban zone was to a greater extent motivated by its tourist assets and familiarity with the area than its proximity to the place of permanent residence. Many respondents used some form of accommodation during those stays, including their own (private) summer houses, or relatives’ / friends’ flats, or hotel accommodation. The monitoring of tourist and recreational activity in Poland should be continued and should also focus on spaces used for these purposes. More extensive research would make it possible to identify patterns and trends, also at regional level. Consequently, this kind of research would facilitate a more effective planning and organization of tourism and recreation, which would bring measurable social, economic and spatial effects.