1. IMPACT OF DEREGULATION ON TOUR GUIDING MARKET IN POLAND Adam Pawlicz Szczecin University

2. ToSEE - Tourism in South East Europe 3rd International Scientific Conference Sustainable Tourism, Economic Development and Quality of Life University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija Role of the tour guide (TG) on tourism market TG play an important role in the tourism experience TG performance might influence also the overall destination image TG is often considered as a “ ‘Cinderella’ of the tourism industry

3. Rationale of profession regulation Regulation is introduced to correct market failures or achieve socially desired outcomes Advocates of regulation underline that free market will fail to produce the socially optimum quantity of the professional service Others view it as a monopoly and effective barrier of entry

4. Deregulation According to seminal article of Akerlof (1970) if a customer (car purchaser) is not able to differentiate between high quality and low quality product than market price will not exceed an average price. Thus, an owner of a good car cannot receive its true economic value, and the owner is locked in

5. Tour guides market in Poland 200420132015 City33465941- Field92196637- Mountain428549843930 Total16 85017 562-

6. Deregulation of Polish TG market Since January 1, 2014 licenses needed to execute a tour guide profession in Poland (with exception of mountain tour guiding) have been abandoned. Deregulation process have been strongly opposed by TG associations

7. Methodology 62 filled questionnaires by TG during 5 th annual conference of Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society Structured interviews with heads of PTSS and Free Guiding Association

8. Sample description The majority of TGs were over 50 and worked as a TG for more than 10 years For almost 60% tour guiding constituted only additional income Only of 19% of TGs were actually mountain guides

9. Results – Information Assymmetry

10. Price of TG service

11. Competition

12. Thank you for your attention! Hvala vam na pažnji! Adam Pawlicz Szczecin University E-mail: adam.pawlicz@wzieu.pl