Poland Tourism in the economy The total value of the tourism economy in Poland was estimated at PLN 87.4 billion in 2014, 11.7% down on 2013. This equates to a contribution of 5.1% to Poland s GDP. International visitor arrivals increased by 2% to 73.8 million in 2014. This includes 16.0 million tourist arrivals, a rise of 1.3% over 2013 and a new record for Poland since joining Schengen in 2007. Germany remains the largest source market, accounting for 36% of international tourist arrivals. International tourism receipts decreased by 3.7% on 2013 to reach PLN 37.8 billion in 2014 and account for 4.7% of total export earnings. The number of domestic tourists in accommodation establishments totalled 19.6 million in 2014, up 8% on 2013. The majority of domestic trips (60.8%) were short visits of 2-4 days. In 2014, 248 700 people were employed in the accommodation and catering sector, compared with 244 700 in 2013. Tourism governance and funding The Ministry of Sport and Tourism is responsible for tourism-related matters, including the management and regulation of tourism in Poland and the Polish Tourism Organisation (POT). The main activities of POT include: the promotion of Poland as an attractive tourism destination; the operation and development of domestic and international tourism information systems; and the initiation, assessment and support for plans to develop, renovate or reconstruct tourist infrastructure. POT has 14 international offices in important current and future source markets. Many aspects of national policy that affect tourism fall outside the responsibility of the Ministry, while many tasks affecting tourism development fall within the remit of regional and local governments. POT also co-operates with regional and local tourism organisations and autonomous bodies involved in tourism promotion and development at the regional and local levels, based on a partnership of equal rights. At sub-national level, the primary role in tourism development is played by regional governments (voivodships) and local governments (poviats at the county level and gminas at the municipality level). Local- or regional-level tasks fall into two groups: public sector tasks that are not allocated elsewhere by relevant legislation (so called own tasks); and tasks commissioned by the National Government Administration (so called commissioned tasks). The commissioned tasks include the supervision, registration, licensing and compliance with various standards of travel agents and tour operators, mountain guides, and also the classification of hotel facilities. 250
Municipalities are responsible for keeping registers of campsites and non-hotel accommodation service providers, for inspecting accommodation facilities and applying sanctions if necessary. Poland: Organisational chart of the tourism bodies Ministry of Sport and Tourism Tourism Department Polish Tourism Organisation International Relations and Promotion in Tourism Tourism economy Strategy and Regional Development Market Research and Staff Training Regional Tourist Organisations Voivodships Marshals (16) (Heads of Regional Authorities) Local Tourist Organisations Supervision Collaboration Ministry of Sport and Tourism supervises Marshals only for the implementation of the Tourist Services Act Source: OECD, adapted from the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, 2016. In 2014, the budget of the National Tourism Administration amounted to PLN 48.2 million, including a budget of PLN 39.3 million for the Polish Tourist Organisation. In addition, during 2007-13, specific tourism sector projects were supported by the European Union structural funds. Figures above do not include regional and local government budgets, which together account for additional spending on tourism in excess of PLN 500 million each year. Tourism policies and programmes The main objective of Poland s national-level policy is to strengthen the development of competitive and innovative tourism through supporting enterprises, organisations, institutions and initiatives in the tourism sector, while respecting the principles of sustainable development. A comprehensive approach is focused on the following priority areas: competitive and innovative tourism; modern tourism management systems; a skilled workforce for the tourism industry; and the contribution of tourism to regional and local development, enhancing social and economic cohesion and improving quality of life. 251
As well as setting out operational objectives and specific tasks for the sector, the Programme for Tourism Development until 2020 identifies those organisations responsible for co-ordination, delivery and funding. The following activities will be important in implementing the Programme: Developing tourism cluster networks, Supporting tourism projects within public-private partnerships, Strengthening the national system of quality management in tourism, Building a modern service offer and creating new tourist products, Encouraging specialisation based on regional potential and resources, Adapting innovative services to the needs and potential of the sector, including e-services, ICT platforms and sales platforms, Strengthening product and quality certification systems to underpin the marketing and promotion of tourist services, Incorporating support for tourism in the development of regional cohesion, based on infrastructure, assets and tourism development potential, Developing workforce skills and qualifications, Introducing operational innovations to achieve improved management of tourism as an economic sector based on the activity of entrepreneurs and their innovative products and services (Box 1.19), Strengthening the quality and attractiveness of the tourist offer at the national and regional levels through institutions, organisations and entities working together to implement initiatives, Establishing a Tourism Observatory with functions in the field of research and analysis for tourism development. 252
Statistical profile Table 1. Poland: Domestic, inbound and outbound tourism 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 TOURISM FLOWS, THOUSAND Domestic tourism Total domestic trips.......... Overnight visitors (tourists) 16 327 17 067 17 656 18 158 19 614 Same-day visitors (excursionists).......... Nights in all types of accommodation 45 730 46 528 50 138 50 488 53 587 Hotels and similar establishments 19 112 20 785 21 466 22 605 24 982 Specialised establishments.......... Other collective establishments 26 618 25 743 26 775 25 928 26 545 Private accommodation.... 1 898 1 955 2 060 Inbound tourism Total international arrivals 58 340 60 745 67 390 72 310 73 750 Overnight visitors (tourists) 12 470 13 350 14 840 15 800 16 000 Same-day visitors (excursionists) 45 870 47 395 52 550 56 510 57 750 Top markets Germany 4 520 4 590 4 800 5 280 5 743 Ukraine 1 350 1 580 1 930 2 110 1 072 Russian Federation 400 500 670 765 1 003 Belarus 970 1 220 1 620 1 530 811 Lithuania 620 630 615 590 605 Nights in all types of accommodation 10 065 10 620 11 877 12 471 12 992 Hotels and similar establishments 8 029 8 397 9 425 10 129 10 667 Specialised establishments.......... Other collective establishments 2 035 2 223 2 330 2 232 2 193 Private accommodation.... 122 110 132 Outbound tourism Total international departures.......... Overnight visitors (tourists) 7 100 6 300 10 000 12 950 10 900 Same-day visitors (excursionists).......... Top destinations TOURISM RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE, MILLION PLN Inbound tourism Total international receipts 30 472 34 415 38 860 39 210 37 765 International travel receipts 28 856 31 479 35 699 35 770 34 386 International passenger transport receipts 1 616 2 936 3 161 3 440 3 379 Outbound tourism Total international expenditure 27 728 26 349 29 902 28 937 28 714 International travel expenditure 26 006 24 979 28 609 27 949 27 913 International passenger transport expenditure 1 722 1 370 1 293 988 801.. Not available; Break in series Disclaimer: http://oe.cd/disclaimer Source: OECD Tourism Statistics (Database). 1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888933320374 253
.. Not available Disclaimer: http://oe.cd/disclaimer 1. Data refer to number of employees. Table 2. Poland: Enterprises and employment in tourism Number of establishments Number of persons employed 1 2014 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Total Tourism industries 21 217.......... Accommodation services for visitors 9 885 175 663 173 722 174 811 170 061 171 138 Hotels and similar establishments 3 646.......... Food and beverage serving industry 7 533.......... 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 3 799.......... Cultural industry Sports and recreation industry Retail trade of country-specific tourism characteristic goods Other country-specific tourism industries Other industries Source: OECD Tourism Statistics (Database). 1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888933320388.. Not available Disclaimer: http://oe.cd/disclaimer Table 3. Poland: Internal tourism consumption Million PLN 2012 Domestic tourism consumption Inbound tourism consumption Internal tourism consumption Total...... Consumption products 15 642 32 517 48 159 Tourism characteristic products 6 938 13 246 20 184 Accommodation services for visitors 2 639 3 555 6 194 Food and beverage serving services 2 044 4 653 6 697 Passenger transport services 1 617 2 609 4 226 Air passenger transport services...... Railways passenger transport services...... Road passenger transport services...... Water passenger transport services...... Passenger transport supporting services...... Transport equipment rental services...... Travel agencies and other reservation services industry...... Cultural services 638 2 429 3 067 Sports and recreation services...... Country-specific tourism characteristic goods...... Country-specific tourism characteristic services...... Other consumption products 8 704 19 271 27 975 Tourism connected products...... Non-tourism related consumption products...... Non-consumption products...... Source: OECD Tourism Statistics (Database). 1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888933320393 254
From: OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2016 Access the complete publication at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/tour-2016-en Please cite this chapter as: OECD (2016), Poland, in OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2016, OECD Publishing, Paris. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/tour-2016-32-en This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of OECD member countries. This document and any map included herein are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area. You can copy, download or print OECD content for your own use, and you can include excerpts from OECD publications, databases and multimedia products in your own documents, presentations, blogs, websites and teaching materials, provided that suitable acknowledgment of OECD as source and copyright owner is given. All requests for public or commercial use and translation rights should be submitted to rights@oecd.org. Requests for permission to photocopy portions of this material for public or commercial use shall be addressed directly to the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) at info@copyright.com or the Centre français d exploitation du droit de copie (CFC) at contact@cfcopies.com.