Tourist activity of young people as a factor contributing to their health and proper development

Abstract

Introduction and Objective: The aim of this paper is to assess the level of tourist activity of pupils and students from schools in Warsaw, as well as factors influencing this level of activity. Methods: A two-part questionnaire was used that included questions related to participation in tourist trips (day, long, short, and trips abroad) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Results: Among the analyzed factors (gender, level of school, level of physical activity), only the level of school turned out to be the factor which significantly (p=0.000) influenced the physical activity of the respondents. It was observed that tourist activity among pupils and students decreased with age. Conclusion: There is an urgent need for a systematic approach towards promoting and supporting the participation of children and young people in tourism. as well as setting examples of how to travel and rest. Carrying out intervention programmes demands the further identification of factors determining them (e.g. influence of parents' leisure time behaviour), as well as the application of standardized research tools.