Kresy Wschodnie w świadomości uczniów szkół ponadgimnazjalnych w Polsce i perspektywy rozwoju turystyki sentymentalnej

Abstract

Eastern Borderlands (the former territories of the Republic of Poland) are an attractive destination for Poles due to the rich Polish cultural heritage. Sentimental feelings connected with Eastern Borderlands are evident in case of elder people and in relation to their origin, and to the memory of important historical events that took place in present- day Western Ukraine, Belarus, and Vilnius. What is the situation like regarding young people? Are the issues concerning the Eastern Borderlands mentioned during Polish, History, and Geography lessons, and are they present in awareness of the students? The aim of the present study is to outline the knowledge of high school students about Eastern Borderlands and its cultural heritage, as well as their willingness to travel to these territories. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey was conducted in Polish voivodeship cities. As a result, 420 correctly completed questionnaires were received. The results show that students know what the Borderlands (“Kresy” in Polish) are, but the knowledge about the Polish cultural heritage is very limited. One out of five respondents indicated that they have family members who originate from the Eastern Borderlands. Only 2% of the students were in Ukraine, however this country is not perceived as safe. Almost half (45%) of the surveyed high school students would like to visit the Eastern Borderlands, 29% do not know if they would like it or not, but the rest responded negatively.