INFRAREGTUR

The first level covers the entire area covered by the Cross-Border Cooperation Operational Programme, Poland - Slovak Republic 2007-2013. The Polish side is composed of three sub - border regions (NUTS III): Bielsko-Biala, Nowy Sącz, Krosno, Przemysl, and four counties including (NUTS IV): Pszczyna, Oswiecim, Rzeszow and the city of Rzeszow (as the Head District). On the Slovak side, the spatial extent of the program is limited to: Żyliński and Prešov (NUTS III).

At this point, an analysis will be performed of the potential accessibility from outside areas (regions and countries in which potential tourists live) by using the potential method. Also, it is planned to investigate the accessibility of the area INFRAREGTUR for weekend tourism (daily accessibility). Time measurements and accessibility to cities that are major sources of tourist travels will be measured by the use of isochrones.

Consultations (questionnaire interviews; moderated thematic discussions) with representatives of government and social organizations, institutions and external organizations interested in improving the availability of Polish-Slovak border are planned.

Nationwide and strategic planning documents will be used in the project. Poland will use the following documents:

• - The concept of National Spatial Planning Guidelines for Tourism Development 2015;
• - Infrastructure and Environment Programme;
• - The Transport Development Strategy

Slovakia will use:

• - The concept of Territorial Development of Slovakia;
• - The National Strategy for 2007-2013;
• - The New Tourism Development Strategy of the Slovak Republic up till 2013;
• - The National Strategy for Regional Development of the Slovak Republic (in preparation).

In addition, the following documents will be used for all administrative units located within the area of INTERREG:

• - The Cross-border Cooperation Programme for Poland – the Slovak Republic 2007 - 2013;
• - The Euroregions development strategies;

Additionally, for Poland the above documents will include:

• - development strategies of voivodships;
• - spatial planning of provinces, strategies;
• - tourism development in the provinces;
• - long-term investment plans of provinces;
• - regional operational programs, and environmental programs of provinces.

For Slovakia:

• - programs of economic and social development of the self-governing counties;
• - general spatial plans;
• - tourism development strategies of the self-governing counties;
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The second level includes chain communities which are communities located next to each other; one after another (the Polish side) and communities (on the Slovak side) that are on the borderline, and whose administrative boundaries are located at a distance of no more than 10 kilometers from the Polish-Slovak border. The range was enlarged in justified cases.

In this approximately 10-kilometer area of chain communities, in-depth interviews are planned to be scheduled with representatives of local institutions. These representatives are those interested in the development and the improvement of accessibility of the second level areas (representatives of government, social organizations, residents, businesses, etc.).

Development strategies for all communities of counties located within the second level of research will be examined. For Slovak communities, development strategies will include  spatial plans and their programs for economic and social development as well as the microregions PHSR.

The third level is made up of the selected areas for detailed research (case studies). Within the project INFRAREGTUR, six areas were selected:

• Beskid Sląski
• Tatry
• Pieniny
• Poprad Valley
• Beskid Niski
• Bieszczady

At this level, a study is planned on the availability of time and the potential availability between accommodations and places of tourist attractions (e.g. ski slopes or the entrances to national parks).

On the Polish side, individual case studies with the following strategic and planning information will be analyzed:

• - documents referring to strategy and planning:
• - developmental strategies of the municipalities;
• - local development plans;
• - long-term investment plans of municipalities;
• - studies of conditions and direction of spatial development;
• - local zoning plans.

On the Slovak side, the following will be analyzed:

• - spatial plans of selected communities
• - and local development plans (for selected cities).

Moreover, the test area was divided into three parts:

1) the western (covering the area of the Slask Province on the Polish side, and on the Slovak side, the corresponding border regions of Kysuce and Orava),

2)  the middle (Małopolska and the border area of Orava to the district of Bardejov) and

3) the eastern (the Podkarpackie Province and the border area of Swidnik county, to the border with the Ukraine).

The divisions serve to facilitate the organization of the work. Consultations will take place in each part of the area which will facilitate the participation of representatives of local authorities and NGOs working in the area.

All the work activities will be carried out at the same time on both sides of the border, using the same tools (translated questionnaires, interviews and discussions) and research methods (e.g. analysis of the time and potential availability, etc.).

Analysis of all the results will help to accurately identify spatial, transport, tourism policy, and investment plans of the units at different administrative levels. This information will support our plan aimed at improved accessibility of tourist areas.