The paper aims to examine the issue of ski resort development in Poland from the perspective of its limitations. In the study, we consider the uncertainty of snow and temperature conditions, along with governmental regulations, social and institutional conflicts, as well as the impact of other local and non-local factors on ski tourism businesses. The research was conducted in the form of a survey of 33 domestic tourist entities managing ski resorts. The following development barriers were identified and discussed: cost of new investments and modernization of existing facilities, cost of adaptation to changing climate conditions, time-consuming and complicated legal proceedings related to the investment process, unordered in law issues of land ownership used for ski tourism. Strongly endogenous in nature, the domestic ski-tourism market is still evolving and transforming. The model of ski resort development employed in Poland fosters multidimensional linkages in destination systems between the ski resort sector and other tourism services and local communities. Due to the fact that revenue streams cannot be predicted, operational stability and a solid competitive advantage will be gained in the long term by ski resorts and ski-related tourist destinations capable of offering a number of services complementary to skiing itself.

The aim of the article is to raise and discuss, according to contemporary research findings, the most important reservations regarding the concept of sustainable (harmonious) tourism development as well as the barriers to the implementation of its principles in practice. The author points to ambiguities in the interpretation of the term ‘sustainability’ and, as a result, the methodological implications for tourism studies including the problem of measuring and evaluating ‘sustainability’ in tourism development processes. In addition it considers the social hostility towards limiting consumption in tourism and the growing climatic, economic and political instability at tourism destinations hindering its implementation of the concept of sustainability. In conclusion, the author proposes a new paradigm for sustainable tourism which does not directly relate to the imperative of harmonious interconnection between differing development goals and values in tourism.

The article examines the issues surrounding tourist activity and social interest in agritourism among residents of the main cities in Kazakhstan. Based on the survey results among a group of n = 577 respondents, the article inspected the extent of their participation in rural tourism, including agritourism, as well as their preferences and expectations regarding the type and extent of services offered on tourist farms. Research results show that the interest of city residents in using agritourism farm services is limited despite of a generally positive attitude towards rural tourism. Potential tourists’ expectations of agritourism farm services focus primarily on the quality of accommodations and the sanitary conditions present in the facilities providing them. Domestic tourists especially expect to be able to take advantage of natural products with medicinal and cosmetic properties. They view active forms of leisure as a mere supplement. The respondents’ opinions and assessments can determine the ways agritourism farms adapt to this clientele as well as impact organisational decisions and strategic planning of rural tourism in the country.