OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2024

Poland

Tourism in the economy and outlook 

Tourism is an important driver of the Polish economy. In 2022, the total value of the tourism economy in Poland was estimated at PLN 131.4 billion, or 4.3% of Poland’s GDP (accounting for direct and indirect impacts). The total value of the tourism economy in 2022 represented an increase of 43% in nominal terms since 2021, but this was still 7.3% below the pre-pandemic level. In 2022, 215 900 people were employed in the accommodation services sector, an increase of 10% compared to 2020, and 4% above 2019 levels. Travel exports reached PLN 64.6 billion, or 15.2% of total service exports in 2022.

International tourism has seen a strong recovery in Poland, with 15.9 million international tourists in 2022, but it remains 25% below 2019 levels. Germany remains the largest source market, accounting for 33% of international tourism, followed by Ukraine (22%), and Belarus (5%).

Domestic tourism remains an essential part of the sector. In 2022, Polish residents made 51.7 million domestic overnight trips, 3.4% above 2019 levels, and accounted for 76% of total overnight visitors. Poland counted 11.7 million outbound trips, 13.3% below 2019 levels.

At the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022, Poland experienced a decline in bookings across the country. Due to the persisting uncertainty of the multiple crises, international arrivals are projected to reach near pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024, with the possibility of exceeding this level in 2025.

Tourism governance 

The Ministry of Sport and Tourism is responsible for tourism-related matters, including the sector’s management, legislation and regulation in Poland. The Ministry also supervises the Polish Tourism Organisation, responsible for marketing and promotion of Poland as a tourist destination and ensuring the development and operation of the Polish tourist information system. The organisation has 16 international offices, located in established and emerging markets, and co-operates with the tourist organisations and others involved in promoting and developing tourism at the regional level. 

At the regional level, tourism development is the responsibility of regional and local governments. Regional Tourism Organisations collaborate between local governments, particularly at the provincial level, and tourism sector representatives. Joint activities focus on the development of products and the tourist information system, consumer marketing, domestic and international promotion, and infrastructure development and modernisation. There are approximately 130 local tourist organisations in Poland.

The Minister of Sport and Tourism established the Tourism Experts Council for tourism development in Poland. The council is made up of experts and practitioners and designed to support continued initiatives for the pandemic recovery.  

The tourism budget in Poland has been increasing. In 2023, tourism was allocated PLN 110.3 million, including PLN 84.5 million for the Polish Tourism Organisation. This represents a total increase of 53% compared to 2022, when the tourism budget was PLN 71.9 million and the Polish Tourism Organisation received PLN 60.2 million.

Poland: Organisational chart of tourism bodies

 

Source: OECD, adapted from the Sport and Tourism, 2024.

Tourism policies and programmes

Poland is currently working on a new long-term strategy a blueprint of effective instruments, solutions and mechanisms for state intervention will be developed, providing an effective response to potential crises and ensuring sustainable and stable tourism development. This strategy will replace the existing long-term tourism strategy which set targets until 2020. Preparatory work has begun and will focus on diagnosis, evaluation and recommendations, however, given the context's complexity and the anticipated challenges, the strategy has yet to be finalised.

The Strategy will be developed in co-operation with key tourism stakeholders, including, the Polish Tourism Organisation, Central Statistical Office, Regional Tourism Organisations, entrepreneurs in the tourism industry, Trade Associations. Work is also underway to ensure appropriate legislative solutions to support these objectives.

It is anticipated that the new strategy will focus on the key issues of:

• Digitalisation and technological innovation

• Climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable services - sustainable tourism and ecotourism

• Development of inbound tourism

• Development of social tourism

• Modern ways of collecting and managing tourism data

• Activities for the promotion and development of Polish tourism

• Increasing resilience to future crises.

While developing a new long-term strategy, Poland continues to support tourism through several key programmes. The Tourism Reimbursement Fund, established in September 2020, aims to prevent business bankruptcies within the tourism sector and has distributed nearly PLN 300 million to over 100 000 beneficiaries. The Tourism Aid Fund provides loans to tour operators for event cancellations due to extraordinary circumstances and has been utilised twice in response to global geopolitical tensions.

A social tourism programme promotes tourism for the elderly, children from orphanages, children with disabilities and their caretakers, and includes training for those working with people with special needs. This programme received over PLN 6.5 million in 2023, with approximately PLN 5 million planned for 2024.

Another programme focuses on promoting physical activity by renovating and establishing new hiking trails, with PLN 2 million in funding for 2023 and PLN 3 million planned for 2024. The System of Public Registers in Tourism aims to provide reliable information to tourists and professionals, verify legally operating accommodation facilities, enhance digitalisation, and strengthen domestic tourism post-COVID.

Additionally, the Polish Tourism Brands Project aims to create a catalogue of attractive Polish regions and tourist routes, with nine brands currently participating and three new brands to be announced in early 2024. The catalogue will be professionally managed and promoted to foster tourism development in the selected areas.

Statistical Profile

Poland: Domestic, inbound and outbound tourism

	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
TOURISM FLOWS, THOUSAND
Domestic tourism
Total domestic trips	95 973	..	..	80 671	51 702
Overnight visitors (tourists)	47 736	50 018	38 570	46 278	51 702
Same-day visitors (excursionists)	48 237	..	..	34 393
Nights in all types of accommodation	224 767	233 660	182 815	220 111	241 626
Hotels and similar establishments	47 324	51 912	35 922	42 969	54 496
Other collective establishments	71 902	76 020	52 508	70 937	78 454
Private accommodation	105 541	105 728	94 385	106 206	108 676
Inbound tourism
Total international arrivals	85 947	88 515	51 076	51 026	71 814
Overnight visitors (tourists)	19 623	21 158	8 418	9 722	15 948
Same-day visitors (excursionists)	66 324	67 356	42 658	41 304	55 867
Top markets
Germany	6 704	7 067	3 426	3 630	5 219
Ukraine	2 038	2 596	1 021	1 496	3 462
Russia	919	955	238	..	..
United Kingdom	919	1 002	360	389	699
Belarus	793	807	391	490	735
Nights in all types of accommodation	122 065	131 988	57 306	64 531	103 351
Hotels and similar establishments	47 195	52 979	20 637	21 467	31 830
Other collective establishments	13 781	15 849	4 946	4 920	8 865
Private accommodation	61 089	63 160	31 723	38 144	62 655
Outbound tourism
Total international departures	48 615	50 558	26 893	24 220	33 748
Overnight visitors (tourists)	12 747	13 545	6 187	6 813	11 742
Same-day visitors (excursionists)	35 868	37 013	20 706	17 407	22 006
Top destinations
Germany	2 438	2 523	1 603	1 797	2 419
Italy	1 055	1 114	393	383	1 047
United Kingdom	1 031	1 100	437	..	749
Czechia	762	790	410	383	..
Greece	752	857	..	451	801
TOURISM RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE, MILLION PLN
Inbound tourism
Total international receipts	56 775	61 514	34 333	39 260	73 530
International travel receipts	50 613	53 802	31 975	35 163	64 623
International passenger transport receipts	6 162	7 712	2 358	4 097	8 907
Outbound tourism
Total international expenditure	37 970	39 279	21 884	23 588	36 951
International travel expenditure	34 759	35 653	20 536	22 224	34 238
International passenger transport expenditure	3 211	3 626	1 348	1 364	2 713

.. Not available

Source: OECD Tourism Statistics (Database).

Statlink

Poland: Enterprises and employment in tourism

	Number of establishments	Number of persons employed1
	2023	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Total	..	..	..	..	..	..
Tourism industries	17 261	..	..	..	..	..
Accommodation services for visitors	9 809	195 675	208 257	195 539	198 693	215 877
Hotels and similar establishments	3 982	..	..	..	..	..
Food and beverage serving industry	7 452	..	..	..	..	..
Passenger transport	..	..	..	..	..	..
Air passenger transport	..	..	..	..	..	..
Railways passenger transport	..	..	..	..	..	..
Road passenger transport	..	..	..	..	..	..
Water passenger transport	..	..	..	..	..	..
Passenger transport supporting services	..	..	..	..	..	..
Transport equipment rental	..	..	..	..	..	..
Travel agencies and other reservation services industry	..	..	..	..	..	..
Cultural industry	..	..	..	..	..	..
Sports and recreation industry	..	..	..	..	..	..
Retail trade of country-specific tourism characteristic goods	..	..	..	..	..	..
Other country-specific tourism industries	..	..	..	..	..	..
Other industries	..	..	..	..	..	..

.. Not available

1. Data refer to number of employees.

Source: OECD Tourism Statistics (Database).

Statlink

Poland: Internal tourism consumption

Million PLN

	2015
	Domestic tourism expenditure	Inbound tourism expenditure	Internal tourism consumption
Total	..	..	..
Consumption products	21 420	36 750	65 099
Tourism characteristic products	15 411	12 854	31 500
Accommodation services for visitors	4 853	3 320	10 244
Food and beverage serving services	4 874	4 328	9 202
Passenger transport services	3 066	2 825	6 599
Air passenger transport services	2 058	1 897	4 121
Railways passenger transport services	219	113	697
Road passenger transport services	783	724	1 685
Water passenger transport services	6	91	97
Passenger transport supporting services	..	..	..
Transport equipment rental services	167	0	547
Travel agencies and other reservation services industry	2 031	458	2 566
Cultural services	419	1 923	2 342
Sports and recreation services	..	..	..
Country-specific tourism characteristic goods	..	..	..
Country-specific tourism characteristic services	..	..	..
Other consumption products	6 009	23 896	33 600
Tourism connected products	..	..	..
Non-tourism related consumption products	..	..	..
Non-consumption products	..	..	..

.. Not available

Source: OECD Tourism Statistics (Database).

Statlink