A method for evaluating the impact of universal design on the attractiveness of military tourism sites

Abstract

   Motives: The interest in military tourism has been increasing steadily around the world, especially among tourists interested in military history. Given the lack of methods and studies examining the impact of universal design on the attractiveness of public open spaces in military tourism sites, an innovative method should be developed to diagnose the accessibility of such sites for all social groups within the realm of the possibilities offered by universal design. Aim: The main aim of the study was to propose a method for assessing the impact of universal design on the attractiveness of public open spaces on the example of the Wolf’s Lair, a popular a military tourism site in Poland. The specific objectives were to describe the origins of tourism, with special emphasis on military tourism, and to present the unique characteristics of public space design. Public space attributes that contribute to effective design of tourist space were identified based on the results of a questionnaire survey. Indicators and measures for assessing the identified attributes were developed and presented, and the principles for their implementation were described. Results: The analyses carried out in the study revealed that the assessed site has considerable appeal for tourists, especially those interested in military history. Based on the results of the assessment conducted with the use of the proposed method, it can be concluded that the examined site is characterised by a high level of tourist attractiveness. The presented findings constitute valuable information for the management of the Wolf’s Lair (State Forests).