Potential for Innovation in Polish Regions in the Context of Smart Tourism

This paper presents an empirical analysis of the tourism innovation potential in Polish regions, specifically examining its relationship with smart tourism development. The study’s primary objective is to evaluate this potential and identify key internal and external conditions influencing its growth. It utilizes recent statistical data from the Polish Central Statistical Office, encompassing information society, research and experimental development, and enterprise innovation activities, alongside other local tourism stimulants, to define the components of tourism innovation potential. The research employs a multi-criteria decision-making approach, integrating Hellwig’s (Przegląd statystyczny 4: 307–326, 1968) method and the TOPSIS method. These methodologies facilitate the linear ordering of regions based on their tourism potential. Eleven diagnostic variables were selected for analysis, with ten acting as stimulants and one (registered unemployment rate) as a destimulant. Hellwig’s method quantified a taxonomic development measure, while TOPSIS identified a synthetic factor for tourism potential, both standardized to a [0,1] range. Regions were then categorized into four typological groups using the arithmetic mean and standard deviation of these measures. The analysis further examines the interdependence between the derived innovation potential rankings and established tourist movement indicators—density of tourist movement (WG) and Schneider’s intensity of tourist movement (WS). This correlation was quantified using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rs). Results indicate a strong positive correlation (rs ranging from 0.90 to 0.95) between innovation potential and tourist traffic, suggesting that innovation investment translates into tourist flow. However, the study reveals regional disparities in leveraging this potential; some regions with moderate innovation potential notably attract tourists. These findings offer insights into Polish voivodeships’ innovation readiness for smart tourism and provide an evidence base for targeted policy interventions to enhance regional tourism competitiveness.