Influence of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic on the dynamics of tourism in selected national parks in Poland

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic that began in 2020 hit the tourist services sector very hard. This article aims to determine the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences on the tourism dynamics in nine Polish national parks. The statistical (descriptive) analysis method was used based on data collection regarding the number of tickets sold in parks in 2019 and 2020. Studies have shown that despite health concerns and several restrictions, the number of tourists in all parks, expressed in ticket sales in 2020, only decreased by 0.06%. Polish national parks, which are less popular, recorded increases in visitors by up to 66%, while in gardens with usually high attendance, there were decreases, especially during the spring lockdown. The obtained analyses allow the development of tourist mobility patterns in unique situations.