Hypotheses concerning the development of Polish spas in the years 1949–2006

This research focuses on an analysis of the development of Polish spas and their life cycles. The author discusses hypotheses on the development of Polish spas to contribute to existing knowledge and an evolutionary model of spas. These concepts are based on Butlerʹs model of the tourist area cycle of evolution in order to describe individual stages in the development of the domestic market of spas. The author analyzes the development of Polish spas in the period 1949–2006 by considering the data (statistical and nonstatistical) that relate to health tourism and historical events of this period.