SOURCES AND STRUCTURE OF INCOME OF AGRITOURISM FARMS IN THE POLISH CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS

Abstract

The paper contains an analysis and evaluation of sources and structure of income in small agritourism farms, located in the region of the Polish Carpathian Mountains. Empirical data were obtained using a questionnaire interview with 73 farms. Their analysis enabled separating five types, i.e. agritourism farms with marginalized agricultural production below 2 ESU, semi-subsistence farms with predominance of plant production 2-4 ESU or with predominance of animal production 2-4 ESU and economically viable farms with predominance of plant production above 4 ESU or with predominance of animal production above 4 ESU. It was demonstrated that the structure of income of all types of the surveyed agritourism farms is dominated by non-agricultural sources of income, i.e. agritourism and accompanying services and permanent or seasonal work beyond the farm, business activities, as well as social benefits - retirement pensions and disability pensions, rather than income from agricultural production. Income from agritourism activities has the greatest and positive effect on profitability of the surveyed farms.