The cooperation of local government and business at the local level in the field of tourism

Contemporary economy is based on advanced strategies of close cooperation between different businesses. It is now a sphere requiring wide-range attention at the local level in Poland. The study presents an analysis of the forms and effects of the cooperation between the local government and business at the local level. Local councils of Słupsk county and Słupsk commune are presented as examples. A private entity Charlotta Valley is a representative of tourist branch located within these units. This paper appoints activities of these units at strategic and operational levels aiming at reinforcement of collaboration between the partners. As the research indicates as well as similar studies conducted in other regions, the cooperation between local councils and business is not effective enough (particularly referring to tourist business). Each partner carries out activities aiming at cooperation but no one is really satisfied with them. So, why this collaboration is not entirely possible despite obvious needs and possibilities. The research indicates that the main reason is the lack of communication abilities. An additional mediator is necessary for communication among various spheres of activities. Concluding, NGOs or business would act as such a mediator. However, the awareness of Polish entrepreneurs as well as local councillors is probably not ready yet to accept this kind of solution. The apparent setbacks in communication may result in diminishing the chance for development. What is more, the financial sphere remains the biggest barrier in this context. Each party understands the need for cooperation not a competition at the local level. Yet, financing issues at the operational level prove to be impossible to solve.Współcześnie w gospodarce rynkowej w Polsce podmioty wszystkich sektorów gospodarczych w sposób niemal doskonały organizują swoją strategię rozwojową. Jednak z punktu widzenia rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego terytorialnych systemów, konieczna jest współpraca międzysektorowa. W artykule zaprezentowano przykłady lokalnej działalności współpracy pomiędzy samorządem lokalnym a biznesem z branży turystycznej. Wskazano na kluczowe bariery braku efektywnej komunikacji w tym zakresie. Badania oparte zostały na studium przypadku współpracy samorządów lokalnych powiatu słupskiego i gminy Słupsk oraz podmiotu gospodarczego Doliny Charlotty