Abstract This study explores the drivers of geographical disparities in municipal bond issuance across Poland using a highly granular county-level approach (N=380). It utilises a unique dataset from the Register of Issuer Obligations (RIO), containing all active municipal bonds as of 2024. The data were geocoded and assigned to specific counties (poviats), allowing for the precise identification of local debt determinants. The Global Moran's I test revealed no significant spatial autocorrelation, indicating that bond issuance patterns are driven primarily by local fundamentals rather than spillover effects. Consequently, an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model with heteroscedasticity-consistent (robust) standard errors was employed. The findings confirm that issuance is most strongly associated with high debt service costs and positive net migration (reflecting investment pressure). Conversely, distance from Warsaw and local wealth (PIT revenue) proved to be significant negative determinants, supporting the financial centre–periphery hypothesis and the substitution effect between own revenues and debt financing.
Digital detox has been defined as a voluntary or enforced temporary limitation of the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In the context of contemporary tourism research, it is regarded as both a type of tourism and a tourism product. The aim of this paper is to discuss the attitudes of tourists towards the use of digital detox, including underlying motives, geographical locations and methods of digital detox practice in domestic tourism in Poland, as well as the experience outcomes achieved. The paper presents the results of a thematic analysis of individual interviews conducted in 2024. Five motives were identified, among which the feeling of mental and physical fatigue caused by the extensive use of ICT in daily life was dominant. The factors that contribute to the facilitation of digital detox can be categorised into two distinct domains: the role of the person and the role of the setting and environment. However, a change in the use of ICT in daily life after a temporary digital detox during a tourist trip was shown to be a considerable challenge, frequently proving unfeasible.
This paper analyses the role of sensescapes in tourism planning, focusing on smart surveys and GIS mapping and analysis for pilgrimage tourism. A mixed methods approach and primary and secondary sources were used. A methodology was developed to collect and analyse territorial sensorial characteristics across the five main senses by using three main characteristics. A smart survey and GIS desktop and online tools were used to create a heat map. This is one of the first studies using a methodology based on smart surveys to collect sensory data, then using GIS to map and analyse it. By utilizing GIS for data collection and combining all sensory data, this study aims to bridge a gap in the previous research. This paper enhances tourism theory and practice by outlining the current and prospective use of emerging technologies, including smart surveys and GIS heat maps, in the tourism industry.
In this study, we explored the spatial heterogeneity of Zipf's law and its evolution over time using a geographically weighted regression on 380 Polish powiats in 1995, 2004, and 2020. We found that Zipf's law is not supported in Poland since populations are distributed more evenly compared to the optimal case. Estimated Zipf coefficients vary across space, exhibiting substantial heterogeneity. Spatial inequalities seem to be increasing over time.
Internal migration patterns are influenced by inherent individual factors and the specific characteristics of the localities. This study analyses how the presence of universities in cities affects the probability of people migrating across departments in Peru for educational and economic reasons. We combined data on universities on the SUNEDU Register at the department level, from 2009 to 2022, with data on individuals from the National Household Survey. To distinguish between educational and economic migration, two samples were used: households comprising members of higher education age and the whole population. Using this data, logistic econometric models were estimated, including and excluding the Lima Metropolitan area. Our findings suggest that the presence of universities induces both educational migration and migration in general. In addition, our results verify the hypothesis that both universities and the economic development of regions drive migration. However, they do not reinforce each other to influence migration.
This article aims to indicate similarities and differences in consumer attitudes and behaviours in relation to household food waste in three selected EU member states: Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The analysis in this study suggests that the key reasons for wasting food in households in all three countries include food spoilage and exceeding the expiry date. Managing surplus food by preparing other dishes was a solution reported twice as frequently for women as for men. This tendency was present in the surveyed group of households in all three countries. In households run by younger people, food was thrown away twice as often as in those managed by people over 65. The solution that involved giving away surplus groceries was definitely more frequently used by households located in rural areas. There were statistically significant differences between the analysed countries in terms of the shopping methods used.
This study offers a retrospective analysis of holiday travel motivations in Poland following the first wave of COVID-19. Despite the 2020 tourism downturn, travel persisted. Based on a nationwide survey (N = 388), the study explores how the perceived COVID-19 threat influenced actual travel behaviour after the first wave of the pandemic. Two tourist segments emerged: 'risk-tolerant' individuals who continued travelling; and 'risk-averse' tourists who remained cautious but did not fully abstain. Findings show that previous travel experience and low pandemic-related anxiety were key predictors of continued engagement. The desire to compensate for prolonged isolation often outweighed fear of infection. The results confirmed early signals of a swift domestic tourism recovery, later observed across post-pandemic phases. Visible and credible safety measures were essential to rebuild confidence. These findings provide valuable insights into Polish tourist behaviour during the early phase of the pandemic and offer a reference point for understanding crisis-induced behavioural dynamics in tourism.
This paper draws on detailed demographic and educational data from over 42,400 localities and 13,100 schools in Poland to examine the occurrence and size of schools in different locality size classes. The findings indicate that the presence of schools in smaller localities is closely related to population size, particularly within the 400–700 inhabitant range. The study also shows that average school size is statistically associated with locality size – up to a population of 4,100, roughly. Beyond this threshold, primary school sizes and school size structures tend to be similar across localities of different sizes. The research results confirm that population and settlement conditions are important factors in the functioning of education in small localities, while also suggesting that school networks in large villages and small towns can be optimized with size parameters similar to those found in large cities.
An analysis of tropical nights (TNs) – namely, nights during which the air temperature does not fall below 20°C – showed a significant increase in number in the Warsaw metropolitan area during the multiannual period 1951–2024, especially since the late 1980s. Over the course of a year, TNs occurred from May to August, most often in July (47% of cases), but they are becoming increasingly common from as early as June. TNs have been observed to occur increasingly frequently in sequences of several days – of up to five in a row. There were 20 cases when TNs occurred at all four stations studied at the same time, and as many as 16 of these were noted in 2010–2024. The greatest number of TNs were recorded at stations in the centre of Warsaw, close to built-up areas, and the lowest at stations far from the centre, confirming that the urban heat island has a significant influence on the occurrence of TNs.
The aim of the article is to determine the spatial differentiation of iGeo results and to identify its key determinants. Using inferential statistics, we compared contestant success in this competition from 2015 to 2023. The findings indicate significant differences in performance, with states in different macroregions reflecting different levels of success on the written, fieldwork and multimedia tests. The findings highlight the influence of economic, educational and urbanization factors on geographical knowledge and skills, suggesting a complex interplay of regional characteristics affecting student outcomes. Therefore, a broad-based approach to geographical education is required to account for the diverse factors contributing to spatial differences in student performance.
The objective of this article is to determine the contemporary functions of forts and castles built by Europeans on the coast of Ghana and to identify their place in the spatial and functional structure of modern-day settlement units. The considerations are based on field research conducted in 2022. First, the analysis covered the following attributes of the sites: accessibility, inclusion on the UNESCO List, and past and contemporary functions. Next, five types of forts were distinguished, based on their placement and surroundings. The sites analysed fulfil a number of functions, such as residential, hotel and artistic, while the tourist function, albeit common, is visible in less than half of the cases. The majority of the forts are falling into disrepair; this depends on their placement, location and the function they fulfil, as well as action (or lack thereof) on the part of the authorities to protect difficult colonial heritage.
In this study, we evaluated public service accessibility across Warsaw’s Municipal Information System (MSI) areas, analyzing access to health, education, and green spaces using GIS and spatial buffers. The results show considerable disparities between central and peripheral areas. In districts such as Śródmieście and Ochota, MSI areas in the city centre, offer better access, while peripheral regions, such as Białołęka and Wawer, have limited access. These findings have highlighted the need for sustainable planning and targeted investments in growing areas to reduce inequalities and improve residents’ quality of life.
Accurate air quality prediction is essential for sustainable urban development. This study evaluates the performance of machine learning models, including DLinear and XGBoost, in comparison with the traditional Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) method for predicting fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in Krak & oacute;w, Poland. A dense network of low-cost sensors was used to generate high-resolution spatial and temporal data. Prediction errors were analysed using the Getis-Ord Gi* spatial statistics method during both extreme pollution events and low pollution days. The results indicate that DLinear achieved the lowest root mean square error (RMSE = 3.8 mu g/m3), followed by XGBoost (RMSE = 6.7 mu g/m3) and ARIMA (RMSE = 9.2 mu g/m3). The spatial distribution of errors highlights the influence of environmental factors, such as humidity and proximity to water bodies, on model accuracy. These findings show the limitations of current prediction models and emphasize the need for spatially adaptive approaches to improve pollution.
An analysis of tram track conditions in Wrocław was conducted, focusing on the locations and causes of unplanned tram stoppages. Records of such incidents are not maintained in a standardized manner. In 2019, a total of 1,084 incidents were reported and described using over 100 distinct terms. The description of the location of these events was often limited to the street name. Of these incidents, 109 stoppages were attributed to track damage. In approximately 10% of these unplanned stoppages, the condition of the railhead played a crucial role – an area over which infrastructure managers have significant influence. To assess the spatial distribution of these stoppages, a map illustrating their occurrence was developed. Cumulative diagrams for each street were plotted on this map and overlaid with track condition data. The application of spatial data analysis provided valuable insights into the patterns and determinants of unplanned tram stoppages.
We performed an analysis of two talus slopes developed on Earth (Lanzarote and King George Island) and two on Mars (Terra Sabaea and Dacono craters) using remote sensing images. Visible boulders were manually vectorized in ArcGIS along talus transects. We obtained information on the angle of natural repose on each talus, and inferred the predominant transport mode and the activity of mass wasting. Temporal changes of these traces were determined based on images from 2008 to 2019. The effectiveness of the method used to analyse talus morphodynamics is described, and directions for further developments are indicated. Based on the analysis of vegetation (on Earth) and boulder paths and aeolian processes (on Mars), the talus slopes were assessed as active. The angle of natural repose is greater on Earth (28.0°–33.4°) than on Mars (16.7°–24.7°) but similar transportation modes occur on both planets (bouncing, rolling and sliding).
The scientific literature demonstrates that cross-border cooperation can play an essential role in the development of tourism in border areas. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether cross-border collaboration has influenced the development of tourism in Poland and, if so, in what way. The article examines EU cross-border cooperation programmes in the 2014–2020 period and describes projects that stimulate tourism. The evolution of cross-border cooperation institutions is described, as well as their function in tourism development. An empirical study was undertaken using national and EU documents as well as information gathered from entities involved in collaboration. All programmes contained provisions for fostering tourism development. The project outcomes included creating tourism products, conducting marketing activities, improving tourist infrastructure and providing staff training. Euroregions played a significant role in encouraging tourism activities. The fragile geopolitical scenario impacts cross-border cooperation and travel, highlighting the need for ongoing research in this field.
Tourism, development, and climate change are having a significant impact on the island of Spitsbergen, located on the Svalbard archipelago, where the development of the tourism industry has been creating both opportunities and challenges for the local community. This study examines the dilemmas faced by Spitsbergen residents, focusing on housing problems, low wages for foreign workers, and conflicts between tourism organizations, the Norwegian authorities, and the local community. While tourism provides jobs and supports environmental initiatives such as the Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund, it also raises concerns about sustainability and infrastructure capacity. This study, based on analysis of the Svalbardposten newspaper and The Paradox of Svalbard publication, among others, reveals that locals collectively agree on the need for all entities to work together. It is crucial to find a balance between tourism, research, and education so that the future development of the island of Spitsbergen benefits both the environment and the local community.
Knowing the temporal and spatial evolution trends of tourist resorts is a key premise in the stability of the strategic directions of tourism in each area. In this context, we aimed to analyze the tourist resorts in Romania in time and space to highlight the evolutionary trends at local, county, regional and national levels. The methods of ranking, classification, weighting and kernel density at the resort, county and development region levels were used, depending on the number of resorts, the year of certification and their type. The results showed a discontinuous tourism evolution in time and an uneven distribution of tourist resorts across the Romanian territory. Most resorts are concentrated in the north-west and central regions. At the local level, tourism is concentrated in six complex tourist regions, namely, Maramureș, Bucovina, the Apuseni Mountains, the Southern Carpathians, the Prahova Valley and the Black Sea coast. The tourist resorts' evolution was marked by three distinct time intervals, with a substantial increase during 2016–2024 from 84 to 216 resorts. Knowledge of this evolution can inform tourism planning and development strategies by local and central public authorities.
In this study, we explore the use of Big Data to dynamically optimize ambulance availability and response times in emergency medical services (EMS). Integrating Big Data principles with the Open Source Routing Machine (OSRM) routing engine, a novel algorithm was used to calculate travel times across an irregular grid, creating real-time, colour-coded time-accessibility maps. In contrast with traditional static models, this approach updates dynamically, accounting for road conditions, accidents and other disruptions to minimize delays. By excluding unusable segments from calculations, the algorithm ensures rapid recalculations, maintaining EMS coverage in evolving conditions. Testing showed significant improvements in response time estimation and resource allocation, particularly in urban environments with complex road networks. This real-time mapping tool offers EMS dispatchers an enhanced decision-support system, potentially saving lives by reducing ambulance response times and improving service availability across diverse areas.
In this study, we aimed to identify the landscape change factors from the 2021 eruption of the Tajogaite Volcano on La Palma, assess their extent, depth and direction, and evaluate the eruption's consequences. The primary research method involved field observations in the part of the island affected by the eruption. These observations were correlated with desk-based work, analyzing satellite and cartographic materials and textual studies. In regions encompassing the island's primary landscapes, substantial regeneration occurred. In areas with older volcanic relief, where cultural landscapes had developed, they were buried under lava and volcanic ash, resulting in renaturalization. In locations where the effects of the eruption were less impactful, cultural landscapes underwent varying degrees of degradation and may potentially undergo re-culturalization. During field studies, ‘landscape windows’ were observed amidst the lava cover.
