Assessment of the attractiveness of the tourist and recreation area of Bielsko county

Purpose: The development of the tourist function is possible in attractive tourist areas. The indication of areas of tourist interest is possible, thanks to the assessment of tourist and recreational attractiveness. Conditions for the development of tourism can be described, among others using aggregated synthetic indicators. The purpose of the work is to analyze the attractiveness of the tourist and recreational space of the Bielsko County (Silesian Voivodeship, Poland). Design/methodology/approach: The research area was chosen because of its tourist potential and location in a region with exceptional natural and cultural values. The research used multidimensional comparative analysis, synthetic measures method, and questionnaire form. Findings: It has been shown that in the adopted research model, the most attractive tourist destination is the commune of Szczyrk, and the most attractive investment is the urban-rural commune of Czechowice-Dziedzice. Research limitations/implications: The results of surveys do not always coincide with the results of the multidimensional comparative analysis made using the synthetic measures method, so it is worth using various research methods to assess the attractiveness of the tourist and recreational space of a given region. Originality/value: Valorization carried out using the Gołembski synthetic metering method allowed to determine how the general conditions for the development of tourism are shaped in individual communes of the Bielsko County.