OPEN ACCESS ECOCYCLES Scientific journal of the ISSN 2416-2140 European Ecocycles Society Ecocycles, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 24-33 (2021) DOI: 10.19040/ecocycles.v7i1.187 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Construction of green hostels based on biologically renewable construction materials and natural economic media network. Krzysztof Borkowski, Jakub Borkowski, and Marek Durmała University College of Tourism and Ecology in Sucha Beskidzka, Poland E-mail address: krzysztof.borkowski@suchabeskidzka.pl Abstract – With growing demand for sustainable tourism, ecotourism is a fast-growing branch of the tourism industry, where the design and management of destinations must take into consideration the quality, originality, ecological compatibility, aesthetical properties, educational value, and the evaluation of the carrying capacity of destinations. In this study, we propose a new type of artificial tourist attractions within educative ecotourism, the green hostels constructed entirely of natural materials in harmony with the environment. The here presented model may be adapted to any type of natural environments. Our model of green hostels is based on biologically renewable construction materials and natural economic media network, may constitute a new tourist product in ecotourism. Apart from the presentation of the concept, the study sought answers to the following specific issues: (1) Identify the target group of the planned tourist offer and its needs and estimate the potential number of direct recipients of the project and (2) Demand analysis, based on needs research in terms of developing the tourist offer in a given area, based on which it is possible to indicate the demand for a specific type of tourist product. Keywords – ecotourism, ecological construction, renewable energy, carrying capacity, green hostel, natural economic media network, demand analysis. Received: January 26, 2021 Accepted: March 12, 2021 INTRODUCTION Contemporary trends in creating tourist attractions originate from the 3xE rule (entertainment, excitement, education). The tourism industry in our days with its dynamic development constantly needs new attractions and travel destinations for millions of participants who have already visited recognized facilities, were everywhere and there is not much left to impress them. Furthermore, ecotourism is among the fastest growing branches of tourism, which requires an interdisciplinary approach, embracing sustainable destination development with green technologies and renewable energy- efficient solutions, careful planning of ecological load based on the carrying capacity of touristic destinations and informal education with a great deal of adventures and experience- based learning. Thus, a rich and comprehensive tourist offer (and only such an offer has a chance to be noticed among thousands of others) should be based on searching for original attractions, and if they are not enough - on creating new ones. This creation necessarily concerns primarily culture and technology, as the number of natural attractions is limited and identified. Apart from recognized attractions, such as the Niagara Falls or the Monument Valley National Park, there are many kitschy objects - museums of wax figures, houses filled with ghosts from famous horrors, objects full of dubious memorabilia, e.g. of Elvis Presley or fairy tale characters. The creation of artificial attractions as an alternative to traditional tourist destinations, taking over a growing part of the tourist traffic, is a phenomenon that is becoming more and more common (Kruczek 2014). The initiative to build a green hostel is all the more positive based on biologically renewable construction materials and a natural network of economic media" based on the idea of fascination with the Polish mountain landscape and the natural and anthropogenic heritage of the region offering a real encounter. The visitors can experience the nature and culture of the place they are visiting. Przecławski (197