Health Tourism in Interwar Poland: A Study of Balneological Resorts in Lwów, Wołyń, and Tarnopol Voivodeships

Abstract

The purpose of the work is to analyze the development of resorts and health tourism in interwar Poland, using the example of balneological resorts located in the Lwów, Wołyń, and Tarnopol Voivodeships. The study employs a historical method, which allows to trace the main stages of the development of resort infrastructure, medical specialization, and treatment methods, as well as to identify trends in the organization of tourism and leisure at these resorts during the interwar period. For the first time, the article presents a systematic compilation of information about the resorts in these voivodeships, their medical characteristics, available treatment methods, accommodation infrastructure, as well as the level of attendance, prices and tourist flows. Special attention is given to the role of balneological treatments in the treatment of diseases and health restoration, as well as the cultural and recreational aspects that attracted tourists to these resort areas. The results of the study may serve as a foundation for further scholarly research on the history of healthcare, tourism, and cultural life in Poland and Ukraine, as well as for comparative analysis of the development of the resort industry in interwar Central and Eastern Europe.