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SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BALTIC SEASIDE HEALTH RESORTS ON THE EXAMPLE OF SWINOUJSCIE.

W. K. Wojcikowski

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present characteristic astonishing phenomena occurring in health resorts located by the Baltic Sea. Coastal villages, especially those in which medical activities have been carried out for years, are of great interest to numerous tourists and visitors. Although there are 45 spa resorts in Poland, only six of them are located on the Baltic coast. (?winouj?cie, Kamie? Pomorski, Kolobrzeg, Ustka, Sopot and until 2007 D?bki). Seaside spa towns have been for years an attractive place for numerous private investors who build here hotels, hotels or apartments. Most of these investments are locate in the vicinity of the main, seaside promenade, and due to the high investment pressure, in recent years, numerous investments have appeared in the areas of the dune belt. The dune belt previously excluded from the building due to the protection of the natural surroundings of the sea shore, overgrown with specific coastal vegetation has now become the most attractive place for many investments. Although tourism and recreation are an important element of the economy, the fact of too much interference in the environment permanently changes not only the landscape but can cause threats to the seaside resort both in terms of microclimate change and comfort of treatment and staying in the spa after treatments. The spatial development of ?winoujscie is a very good example illustrating the phenomena occurring in the space of seaside health resorts in Poland. Changes in the urban space are also the result of fierce competition with neighbouring German spas Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf and Bansin.

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