ASSESSMENT OF THE ADAPTATION OF TOURISM SUPPLY OF CULTURAL HERITAGE OBJECTS FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE CONTEXT OF ACCESSIBLE TOURISM. CASE STUDIES FROM POLAND

Abstract

The aim of the research was to define the criteria for assessing the availability of tourist attractions
for elderly people and to check the adaptation of tourist attractions in terms of these requirements
on a selected example. Testing the developed criteria in selected facilities allowed for their
verification, taking into account the opinions of older people. Consequently, the developed criteria
for assessing the availability of tourist attractions for the elderly have become the basis for the
preparation of an audit covering cultural heritage sites that are part of one of the historically oldest
tourist routes in Poland (the Piast Route). The article presents the results of the research in the
methodological aspect, including the catalog of criteria for assessing the availability of tourist
attractions for the elderly, as well as in the cognitive aspect, the results of the audit carried out on
the basis of this catalog in 2019 in 32 facilities located in the Greater Poland part of the Piast Trail.
These results provide the basis for a comprehensive assessment of the adaptation of tourist
attractions to the needs of the elderly. They also show the status of meeting the requirements in this
respect in selected facilities. In addition, the final conclusions may become a starting point for
further research, including, in addition to cultural attractions, also diverse natural tourist attractions.