The research network Geograficzne Laboratorium Turystyki – GeoLabTur (Geographical Laboratory of Tourism – GeoLabTur) was established as part of the Network of tourism and leisure geographers – „Partnership for Development”
(Porozumienie geografów turystyki i rekreacji – „Partnerstwo dla rozwoju”).
In the spring of 2016, a meeting of a group of geographers took place in Wisła, during which it was decided to establish a new inter–university structure with the explicit goal of conducting joint research, exchanging experiences and popularizing knowledge in the field of tourism and recreation.
In 2017, we signed an official agreement on scientific and didactic cooperation between four universities: the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, the University of Warsaw and the University of
Wroclaw.
The main task of the Network of tourism and leisure geographers – „Partnership for Development ” is to undertake joint research and teaching initiatives aimed at:
– developing new approaches, theoretical concepts and models for researching human tourist and recreational activity and its conditions in the spatial and temporal aspect in the field of geographical sciences;
– identifying the changes as well as their determinants and mechanisms taking place in the forms of leisure with particular emphasis on Central Europe;
– identification of directions, conditions and mechanisms of functional and spatial changes of tourist reception areas in Poland and around the world;
– exchanging information about current research and its results;
and, in addition:
– exchange experiences in education programs and promote them;
– initiate a student exchange program to the extent allowable by the organizational capabilities of each department;
– popularize knowledge about the conditions and directions of tourism development in Poland and around the world, as well as the methods and forms of implementing leisure.
With time, representatives of other scientific units and other institutions began to join the group of geographers from the above–mentioned academic centres.
As part of the GeoLabTur research network, we regularly organize seminars on the geography of tourism where the methodological assumptions of habilitations and doctoral dissertations, as well as the concepts of joint research ventures are
discussed in an small, intimate group with a friendly atmosphere. At the turn of January and February 2020, we organized the first field seminar in Rwanda titled: “Tourism and the development of protected natural areas in overpopulated conditions”.
We implement joint research projects on diverse subjects related to the development of tourism in various spatial, environmental, and functional contexts. Until now, we were interested in such issues as: apartment and short-term rental operations in Polish cities; food waste and its conditions; academic tourism, mobility of academic staff; the impact of national parks on the local economy; attitudes of local communities towards mass tourism. Interest in our research has resulted in the preparation of several applicable projects for local development, social groups, and economic environments.
We are also involved in charity. We are currently implementing, with the support of many people, the construction of a kindergarten in the village of Kinoni in the north of Rwanda.