the tourISm potentIal of the countIeS located In the KuyavIa-pomer anIa and pomer anIa provInceS In reSpect of WaterWayS revItalISatIon

The aim of the paper is to depict the tourism potential of the communes located in the vicinity of the River Vistula (in the Kuyavia-Pomerania and Pomerania Provinces), to perceive that potential as a major factor in socio-economic activation of the region, and finally to study the impact of the Vistula revitalization on the development of tourism especially in relation to the improvement of tourist-centred applications. It can be assumed that the depicted region possesses the necessary potential, both natural and cultural, to develop various types and forms of tourism. Still, this development is conditioned by the current state of tourist-centred preparations and local economy, especially in relation to expenditure on tourism. In addition, one can suppose that the development of tourism will be supported by fulfilling the tasks aimed at the revitalisation of the lower course of the River Vistula, mainly focusing on the E70 waterway fragment. The analysis of the socioeconomic situation together with the tourism potential in the studied region has been enabled by the statistical data provided by the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office (Bank Danych Lokalnych GUS), and by finding documents and analysis relating to the revitalisation of inland waterways in Poland. The collected data refers to 2013.


Introduction
After years of neglect, the River Vistula gained in importance and is finally noticed by entrepreneurs and academics of various fields.This is caused by the discovery of the river's untapped potential.A great change of perspective has been brought by the integration of Poland with the European Union, where waterways are fully utilized for both economy and tourism.It can be claimed that the River Vistula is a unique waterway.Unlike most other European rivers, it has to class III. 7Currently those sections of the River Vistula which can boast class II, can be accessed by small crafts with draught below 50 cm, by small boats for tourists, and by kayaks, 8 and even that only when the water level is satisfactorily high.However, it can be claimed that what is inadequate to transport is more than appreciated by water tourism and riverside tourism.Such a claim is supported by the fact that both the river and its valley retained their features, which make them spellbinding from the perspective of tourists.It must be mentioned here that Poland has not signed the European Agreement on Main Inland Waterways of International Importance (AGN) due to the lack of a possibility to conform with European standards.As a result, undertaken tasks are limited to maintaining and modernising present tourism-centred waterways in relation to the registry of heritage. 9Z Sulimowicz supports this view when reflecting that in order to cope with EU trends, with stimulating the development of waterways, but also bearing in mind the need to protect and promote the largest European natural resort found in Poland, it seems most reasonable to adopt the mentioned waterways for the purpose of tourism and recreation. 10oreover, tourism should positively impact on the development of waterways and river transport, and it can spark the development of lands found in the vicinity of rivers.Tourism seems to be the only rational chance to maintain the traffic on Polish waterways. 11The example of the River Vistula is most prominent as in relation to proposed international routes only the E70 waterway can be adopted for the purpose of tourism at the Northern part of the River Vistula. 12 In recent years, various activities aimed at the utilization of tourist potential of the basin and the lower course of the River Vistula.Improving transportation and developing different forms of tourism became focal points.The promotion of the E70 waterway had a considerable impact on the situation, resulting from the 2009 document signed by six Councillors (West Pomerania, Lubusz, Great Poland, Kujawy-Pomerania, Pomerania, and Warmia-Mazovia) entitled "Preparations for the spatial policy of the revitalisation of inland East-to-West waterway encompassing Oder, Warta, Noteć, Bydgoszcz Canal, Vistula, Nogat, Szkarpowa, and the Vistula Lagoon (plans for the Polish stretch of the E70 waterway)".Among other goals, the joint efforts are supposed to lead towards supporting initiatives aiming at the activation of water tourism on the E70 waterway by making the most of its cultural and natural resources.Secondly, these should allow starting initiatives aimed at the ratification of the European Agreement on Main Inland Waterways of International Importance (AGN) as in due course it would commit the government to adapting Polish waterways to European standards. 13

Methodology and Scope of Research
In the light of the abovementioned issues, this paper's aim is to depict the tourism potential of communes located in the vicinity of the River Vistula, to perceive that potential as a major factor in socio-economic activation of the region, and finally to study the impact of Vistula revitalization on the development of tourism especially in relation to the improvement of tourist-centred applications.As a result of a specific nature of the river, namely due to its diversified hydrological, landscape, and economic features, the presented analysis will be spatially limited to the lower course of the River Vistula found in the Kujawy-Pomerania and the Pomerania Provinces (first order of administrative regions in Poland, equivalent to counties or provinces in many countries).Owing to the previous actions as well as to cultural and anthropogenic qualities, this region is believed to be predisposed towards the development of tourism and recreation.
The contemporary utilisation of the lower course of the River Vistula both for tourism and transportation is rather limited, however, is can be assumed that the depicted region possesses the necessary potential, both natural and cultural, to develop various types and forms of tourism.Still, this development is conditioned by the current state of tourist-centred preparations and local economy, especially in relation to expenditure on tourism.In addition, one can suppose that the development of tourism will be supported by fulfilling the tasks aimed at the revitalisation of the lower course of the River Vistula, mainly focusing on the E70 waterway fragment.
For the purpose of the presented study, the lower course of the River Vistula is not understood as a physical-geographical region stretching from Fordon in Bydgoszcz up to Żuławy, despite the fact that this is consistent with the widespread division of Poland into physical-geographical regions. 14Instead, the span of the river from Narew to Żuławy is taken under the consideration.The following analysis relates to 54 selected riverside communes, out of which 37 are rural in nature and 17 are urban.Also largest towns and cities are studied due to their placement at the lower course of the river: Toruń, Bydgoszcz, and Gdańsk.As a result of the incomplete data found at the Regional Data Bank (Bank Danych Regionalnych), the analysis does not take into account the rural and urban communes of Sztum.The analysis of the socio-economic situation together with the tourism potential in the studied region has been enabled by the statistical data provided by the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office (Bank Danych Lokalnych GUS), and by finding documents and analysis relating to the revitalisation of inland waterways in Poland.The collected data refers to the year 2013.
It is possible to assess the tourism potential as a collection of factors influencing the capacity to develop tourism at a given location 15 as a result of creating a comprehensive database for urban, rural-urban, and rural communes found near the River Vistula.After analysing the variables described in the Regional Data Bank, 16 29 features reflecting tourism potential have been selected and divided into three groups: tourism qualities, tourism development, and tourist traffic. 17n order to capture similarities in the tourism potential of respective communes, it is necessary to resort to applying multivariable calculus in order to analyse k-means clustering, as well as calculating the Euclidean distance for each administrative unit, which has been preceded by data standardisation.The initial results of k-means clustering, in relation to the data obtained from the database, have indicated that a substantial discrepancy between cities and the rest of communes assigned to other clusters, and, consequently, it seems justifiable to divide and re-calculate the results separately for urban and for rural areas.Such an approach is supported by the studies published jointly by Prof. S. Liszewski "Możliwości i kierunki rozwoju turystyki w Dolinie Odry" ("Possibilities for and Directions of Tourism Development in the Oder Valley") (see page 13). 18he authors have also attempted to classify communes in respect of their current natural and cultural potential, tourism infrastructure as well as expenditures on and income from tourism.Secondly, they verified to what extent the current state of the tourist-centred preparations of the River Vistula enable the development of water tourism in the studied communes.

Tourism Function of Towns and Cities Located at the River Vistula
In order to assess the tourism relevance of communes found in the vicinity of the River Vistula, the authors have established tourism functions for each commune.This function is understood here as "all socio-economic activities in a location or region focusing on tourist services, which indicate the local capacity for fulfilling specific tourist needs." 19Hence, tourism function depicts the level of tourism development of a commune, which in turn reflects a general socio-economic status.It is possible to perceive a developing tourism function of a location when the Baretje and Defert indicator reaches the value of 100, or in other words when the volume of accommodation for tourists equals the volume of local inhabitants. 20The analysis of those indicators in the Kujawy-Pomerania and the Pomerania Provinces demonstrates that there is not a single commune, town or city with a primary tourist function.The highest Baretje and Defert indicators, reflecting the development of tourism function, have been found for Ciechocinek (46) and the coastal commune of Stegna  (54.4).For the rest of locations, the indicator is drastically lower: 5.4 (Gniew), 2.8 (Gdańsk), around 1.5 (Toruń and Grudziądz), and lower for other places.In 23 communes the indicator equals zero.
The domination of Ciechocinek (value of 7,259) has also been confirmed by the tourist traffic density indicator (Defert) demonstrating the number of tourists taking advantage of accommodations per 1 km².This indicator appears as much higher especially in locations with a significant density of accommodations: Gniew and Gdańsk (around 2,400), and Toruń (slightly above 2,100).Still, there are some locations without a positive correlation between the density of accommodations and tourist traffic indicator, e.g., Pelplin and Stegna, while in others the situation is the exact opposite, e.g., Chełmno, Tczew, and Nowe.Finally, Schneider's indicator, which reveals the relation between tourists staying overnight and the population of local inhabitants, is most prominent for Ciechocinek again, and for Stegna, Gdańsk, and Gniew.The study of the tourist traffic based on the cluster analysis for all riverside communes suggests that Gdańsk, Bydgoszcz, Toruń, and Ciechocinek constitute a separate cluster due to much higher indicators: Charvet, Beretje and Defert, density of accommodation, and tourism income.The remaining urban and rural communes must be regarded as a distinct cluster, however, Stegna should receive special attention among those.
In terms of rural communes the following clusters have been differentiated: four clusters with two communes, and one cluster with 30 communes.The first of those belongs to Gniew and Nowe -accommodations catering for nearby castles found in major towns in those communes; the next cluster is Dragacz and Wielka Nieszawka -the highest number of hotel accommodations offered to Polish residents; the third is constituted by Osielsko and Tczew found near Bydgoszcz -significant numbers of Polish and foreign visitors; and finally.Stegna commune amounts to an independent cluster -it can boast a high number of tourist in comparison to other rural communes, which is mostly caused by the vicinity of Gdańsk Bay.
The analysis of the selected indicators demonstrated the primacy of Ciechocinek and Stegna in respect of tourist traffic along the Vistula River.Hence, two towns with a dominating spa function, one of which located at the Baltic Sea like the city of Gdańsk, the only other coastal commune under investigation.It may be concluded then that in the lower course of the Vistula River those communes which cannot boast a specific function are not important from the perspective of tourism.The low values of the presented indicators suggest that there is no well integrated tourism product which would encompass all or most of riverside communes.
The Tourism Potential of the Counties Located in the Kuyavia-Pomerania and Pomerania Provinces in Respect of Waterways Revitalisation

Tourism Potential of Communes Located in the Lower Course of the River Vistula
In order to assess the tourism potential, a number of variables for 2013 have been selected from the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office.These are supposed to ascertain the tourist-centred attractiveness of specified location in relation to: forest areas, protected areas, number of museums, number of museum goers, number of accommodations, and finally number of domestic and international tourists.R. Wiluś postulates that "the development of tourism on rivers depends on what is found in its vicinity, and the other way around.A waterway is not limited to the river itself, but also its surroundings perceived by the tourist."21Exactly for this reason, the presented analysis encompasses not only qualities, but also riverside management and the vicinity of the River Vistula.
For the purpose of this study this closest area is understood as the riverside communes.
It is postulated here that the tourism attractiveness of riverside communes depends mostly on their qualities and then secondly on the development of tourism. 22In order to verify the suppositions relating to current tourism potential of the River Vistula and its possible applications, the authors decided to resort to multivariable analysis based on the agglomeration methods and k-means method.Both of those enabled the identification of cities and towns, and also of communes similar in respect of tourism development.The discussed analysis were conducted separately for urban and for rural locations.Taking into account natural and cultural qualities, e.g., valuable natural areas, monuments, and museums, the following urban and rural riverside clusters have been found: city of Gdańsk due to a significant number of monuments, museums, forest areas, and parks (cluster III), city of Bydgoszcz as a result of nearly 30% forest coverage, above 6.000 hectares of protected areas, and a substantial amount of parks (cluster IV), nine communes (Bobrowniki, Cedry Wielkie, Czernikowo, Grudziądz, Kwidzyn, Osielsko, Solec Kujawski, Wielka Nieszawka, and Zławieś Wielka) due to high percentage of forest areas, e.g., above 80% in the communes of Solec Kujawski and Wielka Nieszawka (cluster I), rural communes (Chełmno, Dąbrowa Chełmińska, Dragacz, and Włocławek) as large parts of those are constituted by protected areas (cluster V).Similarly, clustering allowed dividing rural communes into five groups in relation to potential constituted by tourism, natural, and cultural qualities: communes characterised by a large amount of forest areas (Solec Kujawski, Osielsko, Bobrowniki, Czernikowo, Obrowo, Sadlinki) as well as recreational parks (Tczew, Solec Kujawski) (cluster I), separate cluster constituted by a single commune of Wielka Nieszawka due to the highest percentage of forest areas (89%) in the whole study (cluster IV), communes with the highest share of protected areas (Chełmno, Dąbrowa Chełmińska, Dragacz, Włocławek) (cluster V), communes characterised by tourism and cultural qualities measured in the amount of monuments (Nowe, Stegna, Miłoradz) (cluster III), the remaining 22 communes with varied tourism qualities (cluster II).Conducting the analysis of the development of tourism in the studied communes proves that the distribution is uneven and concentrated around towns and cities.On the basis of data obtained from the Local Data Bank (2013) it is estimated that Gdańsk was characterised with the highest amount of accommodation, namely 115.The remaining locations possess much fewer lodgings: Ciechocinek (39), Toruń (36), Bydgoszcz (25), Grudziądz, Kwidzyn and Włocławek (around 10 in each).Further away from cities and towns, accommodations are scattered and the access to lodgings is much more difficult.Only Stegna, with 68 accommodations, stands against the trend.The rest of communes usually boasts only a handful of places for tourists.Nearly half (43%) of the studied communes does not posses a single registered accommodation.On top of that, it must be clarified that only a scarce group of accommodations caters for tourists travelling on waterways.
As a result of signing an agreement between Chief Executives from six provinces in respect to the development of the E70 waterway, new marinas and quay have been established in Bydgoszcz, Włocławek, and Tczew, and boulevards have been renovated in Włocławek, Toruń, Grudziądz, and Tczew.In addition, the part of the Bydgoszcz Canal, which has a pivotal function in linking the waterways linking the East with the West, has been revitalized together with the quay in the centre of the city, the Mill Island, rowing course at Brdyujście, and Plant found near the odl Bydgoszcz Canal (the result of the Reuris EU project).A new port and quay at Grudziądz have commenced, 23 while the crest of the dam in Włocławek is already rebuilt 24 .Despite all those works in progress, the placement of tourism instrastructure is still uneven when looking at the whole length of the River Vistula. 25 According to R. Zamyślewski, author of guides and maps for users of inland waterways 26 , the lack of the infrastructure for waterways travellers and for tourists is still significant (2011).Those which can be reached are usually newly built or renovated marinas, located in major cities and towns, e.g., Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Grudziądz, Włocławek, and Tczew.Consequently, there is not much that can be found in terms of smaller infrastructure, placed in smaller towns, which would enable safe mooring while sightseeing the neighbourhood.
One of the key factors influencing the development of tourism are tourist routes, which can be perceived as an element of tourism management. 27The studied stretch of the River Vistula possesses only one kayak route and one sailing route; however, there are many other kayak routes crossing or joining it: Brda, Noteć, Drwęca, Wda, Zgłowiączka, Osa, Liwa, Wierzyca, and Mątawa.Bydgoszcz Water Junction functions as an important node in the development of Polish waterways due to the fact that many national tourist, sailing, and kayak routes cross and meet here: Wielka Pętla Wielkopolska (688 km), Pętla Toruńska (487 km), Pętla Kujawska (269 km). 28Along the River Vistula other routes are established: biking routes, black biking route prepared by the Association for the Lower Vistula Friends (Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Dolnej Wisły) and the Vistula Route (Szlak Wisły) coordinated by Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Kujawsko-Pomorskiego.The last route is intended to run along the whole length of the Vistula River.On top of those there are additional walking paths adjacent to the lower Vistula River; however, these are usually shorter in distance.
For tourists travelling by land, discovering the river and its surroundings depends on the access to various means of crossing waterways.The studied region is characterised by 10 bridges, one of those atop the dam in Włocławek, and 4 ferries operating only in peak seasons.It must be stated that despite the obvious transportation function, ferries are mainly an attraction for tourists.Another issue worth mentioning is the distance between bridges, which is important from the perspective of a tourist.The average stretch between bridges in the lower course of the River Vistula amounts to 40 km. 29he spatial distribution of tourism infrastructure found in the riverside communes has been described on the basis of selected variables found in the Regional Data Bank (2013).Those variables include the number and quality of facilities supporting water tourism, accommodations, as well as data concerning the length of biking routes.Conducting the cluster analysis of both urban and rural communes the following facts have been observed: separate clusters are constituted by Gdańsk (accommodations, ferry, quay), Stegna commune (accommodations, ferry), Dobrzyń nad Wisła (port and sailing club), the last cluster encompasses the remaining cities and towns with developed accommodation access (Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Ciechocinek, and Grudziądz) and facilities catering for the needs of water tourists (Włocławek, Tczew, Ciechocinek) (Figure 1).The analysis of the riverside rural communes, from the perspective of the development of tourism infrastructure, does not bare resemblance to the joint analysis of urban and rural locations.The investigation has been concluded with describing five clusters differentiated by characteristic features: cluster I -Stegna, usually regarded as a touristy commune, is the only to boast two ferries together with the largest number of waterfront facilities and accommodations, cluster II -constituted by the rural commune surrounding Włocławek as it possesses two quays, cluster III -encompasses four rural communes connected to riverside towns: Chełmno, Dąbrowa Chełmińska, Lubicz neighbouring Toruń, and Raciążek, as these are characterised by a large number of biking routes amounting per 10,000 km², cluster IV -groups 25 rural communes with underdeveloped tourism infrastructure cluster V -the last cluster caters for the communes with a higher number of accommodations, which at the same time surround the largest city of the region, Bydgoszcz (Dragacz, Osielsko, and Wielka Nieszawka communes), and smaller towns with interesting heritage, e.g., Tczew and Gniew.As expected, the study has demonstrated a strong polarity between urban and rural riverside communes in terms of current tourism potential and also of the development of tourist facilities.Such a state is a direct result of socio-economic processes characterising investigated units: economic specific character, income, and expenditure on investments into developing tourism.Even though cities under scrutiny are described by indicators demonstrating readiness to develop tourism on the basis of Vistula River and its potential, it must be stated that a number of rural communes are embracing the idea of promoting and developing of various form of tourism, including water tourism.

Features of tourism movement in the lower course of the River Vistula
Rivers "are often positioned as an attraction, which contribute to the aesthetics of a destination and the quality of the tourism experience." 30However, in tourism, rivers are primarily utilised as waterways.The relation between tourism and rivers is much wider as it stretches beyond river banks.The development of tourism related to rivers must be perceived more holistically by linking rivers with their valleys into one coherent structure tourist-river. 31For this reason the volume of tourist traffic was calculated on the basis of numbers relating to rivers and also to their surroundings.Those figures can be established due to statistical data relating to lockages performed near the River Vistula.In relation to the studied area those locks are found on Nogat: Biała Góra, Szonowo, Rakowiec, and Michałowo.The number of tourists calculated from the number of shipped vessels in 2006 varied between 163 (Michałowo) and 215 (Biała Góra).The traffic in the case of each lock is quite similar, which may suggest that most vessels -mainly sailing boats carrying tourists -cover the whole distance of the waterway towards Zalew Wiślany (the Vistula Lagoon) or via Kanał Jagielloński (Jagiellonian Canal) to Elbląga and later towards Pojezierze Iławskie (the Lake District of Iława). 32A similar number of crafts is registered at the Bydgoszcz Canal, where up to 150 small vessels moor each season. 33he waterways found at the delta of the River Vistula are quite satisfactory for water transportation, hence, the size of traffic is assessed at nearly 1,000 small crafts for tourists and nearly 500 vessels carrying goods and passengers.The data reflects the state of affairs in the first years of the 21st century.34However, a bulk of those crafts is constituted by yachts and motorboats transported from the Gdańsk Bay to Zalew Wiślany and towards Pojezierze Iławskie.As a result, there cannot be many tourists travelling towards E70 waterway in those numbers.Finally, at Bydgoszcz Canal the average lockage number for 2006 surpasses 1,400, and the lock found in Czersko Polskie has been used around 1,100 times. 35A constant growth of the traffic at Zalew Wiślany may have a positive impact on the amount of tourism movement on the River Vistula.This will come as a result of the programme devoted to "Economic Revitalization of the Delta of the Vistula River and of the Vistula Lagoon" (Programu rewitalizacji gospodarczej obszaru Delty Wisły i Zalewu Wiślanego) and its suplimentary project "Loop of the Vistula Delta -International Waterway E70" (Pętla Żuławska -Międzynarodowa Droga Wodna E70).In addition, the growing water tourism at the Gdańsk Bay may also translate into the increase in the volume of tourist movement on the Vistula River.
The towns and cities of the lower course of the Vistula River, just like rural areas in the vicinity, can boast significantly larger numbers of tourists.This view is supported by the data reflecting the usage of accommodations.Various places offering lodgings are visited by thousands (Nowe, Pelplin, Świecie, Wielka Nieszawka) or even hundreds of thousands visitors in towns and cities (Gdańsk, Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Ciechocinek), but even in rural communes the numbers grow from a dozen to a few thousand.However, twenty communes did not register a single usage of offered accommodations.
The analysis of types and forms of tourism in riverside locations requires taking into account both water tourism and land travels along rivers. 36Tourism qualities and development in the lower course of the River Vistula make sightseeing of primary importance as tourists flock to major cities and towns of the region.Even though these are located near the River Vistula, usually excursions are not related to the river itself.Culture tourism is also developing in the lower Vistula region, this time on the basis of: not so popular military facilities, e.g., the fortifications around Chełmno; 37 qualities of waterside infrastructure; industrial monuments, e.g., the Bydgoszcz Canal together with the unused Old Bydgoszcz Canal, lock in Białą Góra, the historic bridges in Bydgoszcz and Grudziądz, and the long span lattice-truss bridge in Tczew considered by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a monument of heritage matching that of the Eiffel Tower or the Suez Canal.Another interesting location found at Żuławy is known as Little Holland due to the highest density of waterways network with unique technical and hydrological monuments.This region is second depression located in a river delta surpassed only by the River Rhine. 38n even dispersion of major urban centres along the River Vistula is characteristic for Kujawy-Pomerania Province.There are both the important centres such as Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Grudziądz, Włocławek, Chełmno, Świecie, Nowe, and Ciechocinek, as well as smaller but significant from the perspective of tourism towns of Tczew, Kwidzyn, Gniew, and Pelplin.This enables the development of the cultural product based on the tourism potential of all those locations with the River Vistula functioning as an axis joining them together, e.g., by providing guided cruises along the river, with sightseeing tours in urban and rural areas, where cultural and natural resources can be appreciated. 39nother feature growing in popularity are festivals promoting tourism qualities of the River Vistula and riverside locations, e.g., Ster na Bydgoszcz -the largest water festival in Europe; numerous Vistula festivals, e.g., Obchody Pomorskiego Święta Wisły held at the Tczew, Kwidzyń, and Sztum communes; sports events concentrating around rowing boats, e.g., Wielka Wioślarska o Puchar Brdy or men's eight regattas, both organised in Bydgoszcz.
On top of those events, specialised tourism is represented by biking as travellers are provided with long-distance and well-marked routes running along the River Vistula.In addition extreme sports gain in importance, e.g., paragliding at Starogród nad Wisłą.In this respect water tourism still seems underdeveloped.It is lacking in the low class of waterways, average water quality, insufficient amount of waterways designed for tourists, missing facilities designed specifically for water tourists, e.g., marinas, accommodations, access to restaurants, etc.It seems that the negative stereotype of the river has a strong impact on the situation, as the Vistula is often perceived as dirty, uninteresting, and dangerous.As mentioned before, the majority of Polish waterways can be accessed only by small vessels; hence, domestic inland water transport accounts barely for 0.7% of the total goods transport in the country 40 and even less in relation to passenger. 41ailing and kayaking, as forms of tourism, are also far from benefiting from the potential provided by the river.Floating down the whole length of the Vistula is still considered as a considerable achievement.The situation is slightly better in terms of transporting passengers; however, it is still far from satisfactory even though the slow process of the development must be attributed to both state and private initiatives.Taking care of passengers is most prominent in urban areas and in the delta of the River Vistula.Among the available options one can list: cruises in Bydgoszcz, e.g., aboard the only European solar water-tram Słonecznik (Sunflower) carrying above 40,000 passengers every year; 42 cruises on a historic water-tram called Bydgoszcz; cruises up the river aboard Wanda and Wiking in Toruń, and ferry crossings on a motorboat known as Katarzynka (a name of a gingerbread type traditionally produced in Toruń); and other cruises near Ciechocinek or on Włocławek Reservoir. 38M. Kamiński, Wisła 1047tajemnic, Fundacja Marka Kamińskiego, Gdańsk 2010. 39 According to J.M. Zaninetti (2014, p. 20), even the "river itself can be turned into a tourist attraction." 40www.tramwajwodny.byd.pl (15.09.2014).
The long-distance journeys on the river are scarce to say the least. 43Fortunately, some Polish companies have started chartering boats on European waters, e.g., Holland, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Belgium, England, and Scotland, and finally in Poland as well.Still, the bulk of Polish water trips is confined to the waterways of the Mazury Lakes, the River Oder, the Gliwice Canal, the Augustów Canal, the Elbląg Canal, and then Pętla Żułąwska, even though it is possible to rent boats for trips in the lower course of the River Vistula between Bydgoszcz and Toruń or even up North to Żuławy. 44In terms of specialised tourism, it is worth mentioning kayaking trips within the Bydgoszcz-Toruń Metropolitan Area or the two-week long International Kayaking Rally Drwęca-Wisła which became one of the largest European events of the sort.The whole journey takes tourists on a voyage from Brodnica, via Golub-Dobrzyń, Toruń, Bydgoszcz, till they reach Chełmno. 45he promotion of water tourism is supported by the various badges such as Szlak Wisły 941.3 km (the Vistula Trail) established in 2009 by Centrum Turystyki Wodnej (the Water Tourism Centre), a division of Polskie Towarzystwo Turystyczno-Krajoznawcze (the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society).The aims of the badge can be enumerated as the promotion of: the qualities of the River Vistula, water tourism, and familiarising tourists with the infrastructure and facilities found along the river. 46t is also more common to see the development of barging, which is quite common in the West European countries such as e.g.Germany and Holland.In Poland it is better known as barking, and it simply refers to travelling by barges or various house-boats down rivers, canals, and lakes. 47In terms of safety, this seems to be an optimum manner of travelling on the River Vistula especially when families with children are taken into consideration.It can also be perceived as an interesting alternative to yachting, which requires certificates and significant experience when sailing on a river of such a magnitude as the Vistula.In comparison, the revised legislation allows barging without certificates.Advantages of barging are numerous ranging from comfort and safety, which is the result of a slow pace of travelling.Barging has already influenced water tourism in Poland as the number of mooring locations has increased, and this enables sightseeing of the neighbourhood.
The recreational tourism in the vicinity of the lower course of the River Vistula is mostly present around the Włocławek Reservoir and in the commune of Stegna.The systematic growth of water quality in the River Vistula, especially from the border of the Mazovia Province to Toruń, 48 should have a positive influence on the development of recreational tourism along the whole stretch of the lower course of the river.In addition to everything mentioned so far, angling is also growing in popularity, especially at the Włocławek Reservoir.It is also possible to recall here the long traditions of spa tourism, e.g., in Chiechocinek located near the Vistula River.As data analysis suggests, this town may function as an important pivot in generating tourism movement towards other riverside regions.
Summarising the above mentioned arguments relating to the size, type, and forms of tourism movements at the lower course of the Vistula River, it becomes possible to distinguish main tourist centres, namely the cities.In this case we must speak about educational tourism, which usually has no connection to the river.There are also some smaller local centres with a significant tourist traffic with well develop facilities.Tourists are drawn to those towns and communes mainly due to important monuments, e.g., Gniew with its Teutonic Knights' castle.Unfortunately, the Vistula Valley lacks small villages which would cater for tourists with basic tourist facilities like resorts, bungalows or campsites, and marinas.

Conclusions
The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the tourism potential of the communes located in the valley of the River Vistula while focusing on the possibility of grounding the development of water tourism on their example.Additionally, the authors have tried to demonstrate various revitalisation enterprises which aim at turning the river into a tourist hub.In the course of the analysis it has been discovered that the River Vistula is usually treated as an addition to other offers presented to tourists.It can be stated that tourism in the riverside communes does not relate directly to the river, but rather concentrates in towns and cities accidentally located at Vistula.Nowadays, the river is finally promoted as possessing an immense potential to be utilised in numerous manners.Finally, it is perceived as a significant factor in the development of tourism in riverside communes as well as the whole province.
This tourism potential is, however, extremely uneven at the whole studied span of the Vistula.To some extent such state can be explained by the specific arrangement of cities and towns versus small rural communes.Conducting the analysis has enabled reaching the conclusion that it is the largest centres together with a handful of more touristy communes, e.g., Stegna, Ciechocinek, and Gniew which dominate the whole region.It is those few locations that offer a diversified tourism product.
It has been postulated that the possibility of utilising the potential of riverside communes lies in the resourceful application of water transport on the basis of the international waterway E70.An asset which should be considered is the limited transport of goods on one hand, and the direct link to Western Europe via rivers and canals.Those two factors together may generate a substantial tourism movement.
Currently, the potential of the lower course of the River Vistula is mostly driven towards education tourism as well as active leisure, especially biking in rural areas.Revitalisation together with the promotion of the Vistula as the E70 waterway gradually develop into, mainly, the waterrelated tourism.This fact can help the communes unable to compete with the potential of other locations characterised by a high numbers of attractions.Through the process of revitalisation of waterways some communes can focus on the tourism movement and water tourism, e.g., by supporting tourist traffic, sailing or barging.
It cannot but be emphasized how important it is to raise the awareness of local inhabitants about the potential provided by the river, and how this potential can be utilised.Local and regional authorities must be included in that perspective. 49The cooperation between the authorities of riverside communes has already been functioning.The declaration of mutual action signed by the Chief Executives from six provinces establishes the grounds for a far-reaching collaboration in respect of developing goods and tourist transport of the whole E70 waterway while retaining its core natural qualities. 50Undoubtedly such an approach may have a strong impact on the socioeconomic development of the regions located in the vicinity of the waterway as the influx of tourists translates directly into higher incomes and increased employment.
When listing major obstacles, the class of waterways must be mentioned at the beginning of the list together with the insufficient development of facilities necessary of water tourism.In respect of active leisure on land, one must refer to the scarcity of various ways of crossing rivers.In addition the majority of offered accommodations is located at cities and towns, away from rural areas of the riverside.
Eventually, the authors have stressed the fact that, due to the poor characteristics of the River Vistula seen as a waterway, and because of no perspectives of immediate development of water transportation system, the revitalisation of the River Vistula becomes of prime importance.It should be adapted to the needs of tourism movement.In the lower course of the river it is barely possible to see a coherent tourism product offered in relation to the Vistula.There is no integrated plan proposing a comprehensive utilisation of the river in a wider tourism perspective.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Similarities between riverside communes in the Kuyavia-Pomerania and the Pomerania Provinces in respect to development and arrangement of tourism infrastructure in 2013 (cluster analysis) Source: the authors' analysis conducted on the basis of the data obtained from the Local Data Bank (2013).