Spatial Structure of Tourism in a City After Transition: The Case of Warsaw, Poland

Abstract

Tourism and leisure influence urban space in a significant way. Geographers, as well as urban planners, take tourism as one of the important factors responsible for spatial, functional and social changes in cities. The influence of tourism on urban space has been widely discussed in tourism literature and it has been argued that tourism was concentrated into small distinctive areas. The aim of the study is to explore spatial organisation of tourism in Warsaw. In this chapter the main precincts of Warsaw are analysed showing how their tourist space is organized and what their functions are. It is proven that tourist districts in Warsaw are not organised similar to many western European cities, with a core tourist district. The main method used in the paper is field work which examines patterns of land-use within the districts. The results of this field work are shown in maps representing these areas. The historical context of these parts of Warsaw is also drawn upon to explain the results.