Eco-frontier in the mountainous borderlands of Central Europe

The impact of selected planned motorways and expressways on the potential accessibility of the Polish-Slovak borderland with respect to tourism development

“…Gutiérrez (2009) states that high-value natural spaces may be in danger if a new highway is built in the area to facilitate access for the population, and that maintaining the inaccessibility of certain natural spaces is a means of protecting them. This factor underlines the role of the increasing number of potential tourists visiting the national parks (Więckowski et al, 2012;Więckowski, 2013). This is true especially in the case of tourism in protected areas, and when tourism is based on natural values.…”

“…Other frequently-visited regions are mountainous areas such as Pieniny (including rafting), the Nízke Tatry, the Malá Fatra, the Veľká Fatra and the western part of the Beskides, mainly on the Polish side (the Beskid Śląski and the Beskid Żywiecki). On the other hand, the natural environment is also a certain barrier to the development of the boundary area, for example in terms of the further development of settlement and of transport infrastructure (Więckowski, 2013). Recreational and active tourism dominates in the PolishSlovak borderland -in particular, mountain hiking and climbing, skiing, cyclotourism, spa and health tourism.…”

“…The Polish-Slovak borderland is defined as the area receiving support from the Cross-border Cooperation Programme, Poland-Slovak Republic 2007-2013. This area includes the entire Žilina and Prešov regions in Slovakia, and southern parts of the Silesian, Małopolskie and Podkarpackie Voivodeships in Poland (Fig.…”

Symmetry or asymmetry? Cross-border openness of service providers in Polish-Czech and Polish-German border towns

“…Natural determinants may be an important factor in shaping trans-border relations (Więckowski, 2013). In both cities in this study, the border was established on the basis of environmental features (in Gubin/Guben -the Nysa Łużycka River, in Cieszyn/Český Těšín -the Olza River).…”

Cieszyn-Czeski Cieszyn - wybrane aspekty funkcjonowania miasta podzielonego na granicy polsko-czeskiej w kontekście transgranicznej mobilności mieszkańców

“…Istotny element w kształtowaniu relacji transgranicznych mogą stanowić również uwarunkowania przyrodnicze (Więckowski 2013). W badanym mieście granica oparta jest na rzece Olzie (co stanowi w pewnym stopniu wyjątkową sytuację na granicy polsko-czeskiej, która w większości wytyczona została na obszarze górskim).…”