FINANCING TOURISM DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTALLY VALUABLE AREAS IN REGIONAL OPERATIONAL PROGRAMMES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES FOR 2007-2013 AND 2014-2020

Abstract

One signifi cant instrument used for self-government activities are EU funds, accessed through Regional Operational Programmes, which influence particular areas of social and economic life in the region. Special support areas in next EU fi nancial perspectives are tourism economy as well as natural environment and protection of its resources. The main aim of this study is to present the
scope of support from the EU funds for the tourism industry provided in two consecutive EU fi nancial perspectives for 2007-2013 and 2014-2020. The tourism economy received signifi cant fi nancial support in the period of 2007-2013, especially for the activities conducted by local authority bodies. Financing tourism economy actions in the 2014-2020 perspective has been strongly limited. A significant support area are, in this case, funds for protected areas (environmentally valuable areas). Objectives related to the development of tourism economy can be accomplished through the use of fi nancial resources earmarked for actions related to the protection of natural environment and effi cient exploitation of its resources. The study shows that there has been a key change in the development policy of tourism economy – from direct dedicated fi nancing (2007-2013) to indirectly fi nanced actions, including
the use of funds for natural environment.