Education Related to Tourism Received by Polish Tourism and Recreation Students in Childhood and Adolescence and its Impact on their Tourism Activity

Abstract Introduction. If activity related to tourism is planned effectively and performed in a responsible way, it can satisfy many human needs. In order to make it possible for members of modern society to fully benefit from tourism, however, it is necessary to undertake action aimed at promoting tourism, fostering its development, stimulating the need to travel, and helping tourists adopt certain habits. The aim of the study was to collect information concerning the impact of family, school, and community organisations on the tourism activity of students of tourism and recreation. Material and methods. The study involved 289 students of an undergraduate programme in tourism and recreation offered by the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. The study was conducted using a specially designed diagnostic survey on “Education in tourism”. Results. More than 71% of the students surveyed engaged in tourism with their parents in childhood and adolescence, and those living in the city did so more frequently. Only one in four students said that during family trips visiting sights and attractions was combined with active tourism. As far as school trips are concerned, the respondents did take part in them, but these were mostly one-day sightseeing trips, aimed at developing their knowledge about the country, during which pupils do not undertake intense physical activity. More than half of the respondents participated in summer camps for children and adolescents. An overwhelming majority of the respondents stated their parents had had the greatest influence on their tourism activity, while community organisations and schools had had the smallest impact in this respect. Conclusion. Most of the students surveyed undertook tourism-related activities which were organised for them by different persons; thus, they received some education in tourism during childhood and adolescence. Since students of tourism and recreation will have an influence on tourism in Poland in the future, provided they work in the tourism sector, they should be prepared to promote tourism which offers a range of different benefits, not only educational ones.