Lithuanian tourism geography

Abstract

The chapter "Lithuanian Tourism Geography" includes an analysis of tourism trade development in Lithuania. The emphasis is placed on the last decades following the restoration of the statehood. Territorial analysis of tourism resources is the priority issue discussed. The chapter also contains information about the specific character of natural conditions and historical cultural heritage. In focus are preserved territories with concentrated complexes of cultural heritage, which are of paramount importance for educational tourism, recreation, scientific research and environmental and ethnocultural education. The territorial distribution of national and regional parks, nature reserves, preserved natural objects and monuments is given. Health and summer resorts are inventoried, concentrating on rural (ecological) tourism as one of the most promising branches of tourism trade. The chapter contains the information about the most popular types of tourism in Lithuania: bicycle tours, motor tourism, water tourism, sports and pilgrimage tourism, etc. It also introduces entertainment and business infrastructures. Rapidly modernized accommodation system-number, structure and location of accommodation establishments-is a reflection of inbound and outbound tourism development in Lithuania. The chapter also contains a survey of foreign tourism markets and most attractive tourism territories for various foreign tourism segments. The most interesting tourism routes in the main tourism regions of the country are discussed. The trends of the inbound tourism of recent years, which create preconditions for development of other branches of economy and culture, are analysed. The advantages and imperfections of the system of tourism in Lithuania are indicated and the future perspective of this important trade is suggested.