Napisz
The Polish tourism industry is in a strong position, as evidenced by statistical data. Last year, Polish tourism enterprises once again experienced growth in outbound travel. According to data from the Polish Travel Guarantee Fund, over 8.7 million customers travelled with tour operators. Furthermore, the high demand for overseas travel was corroborated by Polish airports and international destinations, which reported improved results from the Polish source market.
With regard to inbound tourism, it is estimated that Poland welcomed approximately 20 million tourists last year.
I would like to emphasise that many Polish travellers take holidays not just once but two or more times per year, both abroad and domestically. This is highly encouraging for the hospitality sector and its future prospects. We are seeing increasing interest from investors in this field, with more hotels being managed or franchised by internationally recognised hotel chains.
The hospitality sector is composed not only of major brands but, more significantly, of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which require support to enhance their competitiveness in today’s dynamic market.
One of the principal challenges SMEs face this year is digitalisation. The industry requires greater support from existing EU and national programmes to accelerate development and adopt new technologies that align with evolving customer expectations.
Sustainability is not yet a primary concern for many Polish tourism businesses, particularly SMEs. At the Polish Chamber of Tourism, we are making considerable efforts to raise awareness and encourage entrepreneurs to prioritise this area. We believe our efforts are yielding results, as an increasing number of companies are incorporating environmental objectives into their growth strategies. Nevertheless, much remains to be done to ensure sustainability becomes an integral element of business planning.
European policies can play a crucial role in this transition, provided they do not impose excessive bureaucratic burdens. It is essential to illustrate how sustainability can contribute to business growth, with education being a key factor in this process.
Initiatives such as the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), developed by the Department of Mobility and Transport, aim to assist the hotel sector in documenting its efforts towards responsible development. The requirement for businesses to provide substantiated evidence for their sustainability claims will enhance credibility and foster trust among environmentally conscious consumers. Additionally, it will promote fair competition by enabling companies to compare their environmental footprints using a standardised methodology.
Furthermore, PEF should be viewed as an opportunity to reduce the costs associated with sustainable development by identifying the most impactful measures and helping businesses prioritise their efforts effectively.
Zapraszamy do pełnej treści wywiadu: PRZECZYTAJ WIĘCEJ [EN]
