TY - GEN N1 - 24 cm N2 - Belarus was long a country to which visits by foreign tourists were highly restricted. However,recent years have brought a marked improvement in conditions and possibilities regarding crossings of the border and onward travel into the country. Of key significance to the introduction of the new facilitations are changes of the border regime and an easing of the regulations concerning arrivals that have been achieved by action at central level. Since 2015 in particular, it has been possible to note an unprecedented new scale and rate of change where the border regime is concerned. By virtue of Decisions of the President of the Republic of Belarus, a number of signed Decrees have appeared to bring zones of visa-free travel into existence, with a view to it being easier for visitors to cross over the state border into the country. Presidential Decrees have in fact both established visa-free zones and brought in other regulations making it easier for foreigners to visit. While on the one hand these changes are analogous to those found in other parts of the world at various different times, they on the other hand have certain unique features, especially given the specific nature of Belarus’s isolation in the international arena over more recent decades. Thus, the last few years have seen three types of visa-free zone system come into existence, i.e.: • border zones – on the Poland-Belarus border, and partly also that between Belarus and Lithuania; • zones at airports – especially the capital-city (national) airport known as Minsk-2, but also the airports (and the railway stations) in Brest and Hrodna; • visa-free regimes associated with special occasions, notably sporting events. In terms of main reasons for establishment, the zones that have appeared are: • along the western border (with a view to tourism developing in the Brest and Hrodna regions); • by airports (for the sake of the development of the airports as such, but also the adjacent industrial and capital-city areas, as well as the furthering of regional tourism); • linked closely with sporting events (to help ensure that the image of the country as a whole is promoted). The entry into force of the Decrees in question, and the subsequent taking effect of visa-free regimes at all border crossings, has done much to increase the intensity of the traffic involving Polish people. Since 2015, there has been a steady rise in both absolute numbers of Poles travelling into Belarus, and the share of all visits they account for. This can be closely associated with the commencement of the visa-free regimes. Consecutive years after the years of introduction did not necessarily bring major further increases in numbers travelling; or even witnessed certain decreases. There is also a marked seasonality to numbers of Poles travelling to Belarus, with the peak obviously tending to coincide with the summer months. L1 - http://www.rcin.org.pl/igipz/Content/111576/PDF/WA51_139608_r2019-t91-z4_Przeg-Geogr-Wieckows.pdf M3 - Text J2 - Przegląd Geograficzny T. 91 z. 4 (2019) PY - 2019 IS - 4 EP - 608 KW - Poland KW - Belarus KW - state border KW - border traffic KW - visa-free zones KW - border regime KW - tourism A1 - Więckowski, Marek (1971– ). Autor A1 - Cyargeenka, Aliaksandr. Autor PB - IGiPZ PAN VL - 91 CY - Warszawa SP - 589 T1 - Wpływ złagodzenia reżimu granicznego na Białorusi na wielkość ruchu turystycznego – wstęp do badań = The influence of relaxation of the border regime in Belarus on tourist traffic – introduction to the research UR - http://www.rcin.org.pl/igipz/dlibra/publication/edition/111576 ER - TY - GEN N1 - 24 cm N2 - Political boundaries represent a universal phenomenon and key element by which social and economic phenomena existing across space are structured. But both the presence and the nature (role, function, etc.) of borders are seen to vary temporally and spatially, with differentiated attendant consequences for socio-economic development. The present article relates to state borders, which separate certain areas off from others, while at the same time constituting meeting points and points of contact between them. While this would hold true whether we perceive the said borders as lines, areas or zones, the modern-day approach to borders is a multi-dimensional one that treats them as socio-spatial constructs revealing and articulating differentiation that truly exists. It is possible to note two opposing cause-and-effect processes here. On the one hand, there are different divisions and boundaries between many socio-economic and even natural phenomena that sanction the existence and locations of borders; while on the other the very existence of state borders establishes or reinforces the existence of other, new divisions that can be regarded as boundaries (even as they are not now necessarily state borders as such). I trust that this argumentation helps capture the essence of the geography present in considerations of boundaries and borders; as well as its changing but ever-important role, while at the same time generating opportunities for further research, and for the ongoing observation of the diverse processes linking up with the existence of borders. Variability and change of function would seem to offer a key to the understanding of the significances of borders and the influences they exert, as regards the border landscape, neighbourly (international) relations and phenomena of a socio-economic nature. In that light, four functions for borders are in fact proposed here – as barriers, peripheries, lines of differentiation and axes of integration. Each change has knock-on implications for transformations of function in regard to both borders as such and the areas adjacent to them. Thus, by making assumptions as to the fundamental aspects characterising variations in the nature of borders, it has been possible here to come up with proposals regarding the consequences these will bring with them. And even as a process whereby a border opens up is underway and integration is ensuing, it is still possible that change as a whole will falter or even stall, should issues arise locally (e.g. through conflict or other negative events), nationally (e.g. through unilateral or bilateral severing of agreements), or globally (e.g. thanks to external threat, a desire to protect domestic markets or a migration crisis). For these reasons, geopolitical considerations will always reign supreme over other borderland phenomena, determining directions of development and possibilities for borders (and adjacent areas) to function. In that light, this article stresses the still-relevant need for borders, borderlands and relevant ongoing processes to be made subject to theoretical conceptualisation and processing. And this would be true as regards, not only the spatial extent or scope of borderland areas, but also the changing conditioning, consequences and actions. In this, a challenge that continues to be present entails the founding of theoretical concepts for the borderland that draw on selected paradigms and stress the role and importance of border and borderland geography, along with its key subjects of interest. And, where the study of borders being pursued in Poland is concerned, it needs to be hoped that a new trajectory may be found and followed, with each conceptualisation exerting a summarising or theorising impact proving of value as form is given to a full new theory for the development of borders and borderlands in Poland and its neighbouring countries, with account taken, not merely of recent decades, but of a much longer time period. L1 - http://www.rcin.org.pl/igipz/Content/111569/PDF/WA51_138532_r2019-t91-z4_Przeg-Geogr-Wieckows.pdf M3 - Text J2 - Przegląd Geograficzny T. 91 z. 4 (2019) PY - 2019 IS - 4 EP - 466 KW - state border KW - barrier KW - peripheries KW - cross-border cooperation KW - Poland KW - European Union A1 - Więckowski, Marek (1971– ). Autor PB - IGiPZ PAN VL - 91 CY - Warszawa SP - 443 T1 - Od barier i izolacji do sieci i przestrzeni transgranicznej – konceptualizacja cyklu funkcjonowania granic państwowych = From barriers and isolation to transboundary space and networks – conceptualising ways in which state borders function UR - http://www.rcin.org.pl/igipz/dlibra/publication/edition/111569 ER - TY - GEN N1 - 24 cm N2 - The article reports on work reviewing research into cross-border tourism space as this relates to sea areas. In essence, the review made it clear that the matter in question only appears in the literature rather rarely, even as its underpinning concepts involving tourism space, borders, cross-border cooperation and international integration have been the subject of many studies. The Baltic Sea is no longer an area of separation, having become – more than ever – a meeting point of numerous political, economic and ecological interests. Within its basin (including adjacent areas of land and waters), cross-border tourism space is developing mainly as connections are formed between already-existing tourism space within given states – primarily coastal cities or regions. Connections via the sea confer physical shape upon maritime tourism space, by way of a banded pattern. In turn, cooperation between entities located on two (or more) sides of the maritime border plays a significant role in delimiting the boundaries of cross-border tourism space associated with sea areas, while also serving in the integration process relating to that space, which is actually more extensive than just the interconnected cross-border sea and the coastal spaces, given that cooperating entities may be located even beyond. The author argues that space in which the authorities, institutions and residents of two or more neighbouring countries make contact with each other by way of tourism as conceived broadly can be designated cross-border tourism space. If it is countries separated by a maritime border that are connected, then it is possible to speak of a cross-border tourism space linked to marine areas. The physical flow of tourists by ship that characterises the space in question (as tourist flows occur) provides further strengthening of the idea that such space is capable of being designated. This research forms part of work on aspects of border management and the development of cross-border management (by which a common, cross-border space, in this case for tourism, is developed). The author also posits the existence of cognitive tourism in relation to coastal areas: in cities (urban systems in coastal districts, ports, historic parts of cities, spas), and along the natural shoreline (visits made to coast, shore, dunes and cliffs). The work is then brought to a close with suggestions for further research on the topic, as based on an integrated approach embracing attractiveness, infrastructure and tourism flows, accessibility, the analysis of strategic and planning documents related to the development of tourism, tourism management, territorial marketing, regional identity, the creation of regional tourist products, cross-border cooperation relating to the development of tourism and the relevant impact of cooperation of this kind. L1 - http://www.rcin.org.pl/igipz/Content/111573/PDF/WA51_138894_r2019-t91-z4_Przeg-Geogr-Ceric.pdf M3 - Text J2 - Przegląd Geograficzny T. 91 z. 4 (2019) PY - 2019 IS - 4 EP - 551 KW - maritime tourism space KW - seaside tourism space KW - Baltic Sea Region KW - cross-border cooperation KW - cross-border integration A1 - Cerić, Denis. Autor PB - IGiPZ PAN VL - 91 CY - Warszawa SP - 531 T1 - Transgraniczna przestrzeń turystyczna obszarów morskich i nadmorskich na przykładzie Morza Bałtyckiego – próba wyjaśnienia pojęcia = Cross-border tourism space in maritime and seaside areasa s exemplified by the Baltic Sea Region – an attempt at explaining the concept UR - http://www.rcin.org.pl/igipz/dlibra/publication/edition/111573 ER -