In 2009, in Poland as in other countries because of the global crisis, the number of foreign tourists decreased. But it is still a large number and attractive because of the tourism structure.


According to the Institute of Tourism estimates for the last year, Poland was visited by about 11.8 million tourists. This is about 8 percent less than in 2008. Compared to the estimates of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), it is a result similar to the average drops in the world, which were estimated at approximately 7 percent.

Lake Solina in Bieszczady mountains (southern Poland)


Therefore, despite the crisis, Polish tourism, like other sectors of the economy, came out victorious. Especially if you consider that the declines were influenced by reduced tourism from countries affected by the crisis the most and which are the most important markets for the sale of Polish tourist services, such as Germany and Great Britain. However, the decrease in the group of tourists from Germany, representing the largest group of foreign tourists, was for Poland the lowest in the region and amounted to a few percent compared to several dozen declines elsewhere in the region. The same was true with tourists from the United States. The number of American tourists and the number of nights spent decreased in all countries, but the declines for Poland were relatively the lowest. Poland is the only country that noted an increase in the number of tourists from Canada.


In the city of Tarnó artist Jacek Kucaba has placed 3 bronze figures of polish poets sitting on a bench on Walowa street


Polish membership in the European Union guarantees tourists from highly developed countries an appropriate level of security, and for visitors from the EU, all services such as medical care that are available on its territory. A noticeable tendency of European tourists to shorten the travel distance and time promotes tourism to countries that have not yet been popular tourist destinations, like Poland. Whatever the quantitative outcome in a given year, for many years an increasing trend can be observed in the level of expenditures by foreigners staying in Poland. While in 1997 one person spent up to an average of 203 USD daily, in 2008 the average was as high as 410 USD. One of many reasons for this is the development and growing level of tourist services. The relatively new and still growing tourist infrastructure offers a generally high level of services for less money than in Western Europe, and of a comparable quality.


Every Pole is born to ride a horse - is a famous old saying


Why tourists visit Poland?

The studies of The Institute of Tourism show that major reason of foreigners travelling to Poland is business. In second place is tourism. Visitors coming to Poland on business account for around 28 percent of all foreigners. The second largest group coming to Poland are tourists, at 24 percent. In third place, visits to relatives or friends were the aim of the trips. If you consider that a large part of this group wants to sightsee Poland while visiting, it can be conceded that tourist and business voyages are more than 60 percent of total visitors. Other declared reasons are shopping and transit.

Rysy is the highest peak in Tatra Mountains (2488m, 8200 ft)


Only 7 percent of tourists who come to Poland considers this drive through as transit. A quite large group of 17 percent of respondents defines the purpose of their arrival as not related to any of the above. Among the group arriving to Poland on business, more than half were people arriving on behalf of their company or to conduct their own business. They constitute a total of over 55 percent. People who came to participate in trade fairs, exhibitions, congresses and conferences accounted for 7 percent of all of those who came for business.


Who visits Poland?

For many years, the largest group of tourists visiting Poland were tourists from Germany, our closest neighbours. Last year, visitors from beyond the Odra River accounted for more than 38 percent of all foreign tourists. It was more than tourists from other European Union countries together, as the latter group accounted for just over 32 percent. While tourists from fifteen countries of the "old" EU accounted for over 18.5 percent, the "new" EU countries accounted for more than 13.5 percent.


How do they do that?

The opportunities of operating on the Polish market are illustrated by data of the Institute of Tourism showing the way of organizing visits to Poland by foreign tourists. By far the largest group which amounted to 66 percent prepares their journey themselves. In second place is the group that has organized their visit by buying package services. However, in relation to travelling on their own, it was a small group and represented only 15 percent of foreign tourists. Even if a group that bought part of services and constitutes 10% was added to the above group, there is a disparity between those who organize their visit in Poland on their own and those who use the services of tourist companies. This gives great opportunities to utilizing such a large group currently travelling on their own. Even without the increase in the number of tourists visiting Poland, but only by changing the structure of organizing travels, significant revenue can be achieved.

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