Tourists avoid Poland

Polish entry to the Schengen zone which purportedly was to bring about an invasion of the tourists from abroad, caused that Poland has been visited by 100 thousand Eastern tourists fewer than last year.

The high rate of Zloty deters Germans who traditionally spend their holidays in Poland. If the market of inexpensive air lines will break down, which are used by the tourists from Scandinavia, Great Britain or Ireland, then the entire touristic regions will head a downfall.

Everything is confirmed by the figures although the prognosis of the Touristic Institute predicted that the general amount of visits will increase - from 15,7 million in 2007 to 20 million within 2012 and 2013, according to GUS (Central Statistical Office) Poland visited 10% fewer tourists than last year. From Ukraine for about 34%, from Russia 25% amd from Belorussia 37% fewer.

Unfortunately a lot of indicate that it can get even worse. The third group of guests that visit Poland apart from the East and Germany are tourists from the EU, who use cheap airlines. And cheap airlines are facing a crisis at the moment. Sky Europe withdrew from Poland and Centralwings and WizzAir reduced the amount of connections.

   "If none of the cheap airlines choose Poland for its base, it is the best proof that we are not attractive", said the expert from the Touristic Institute Witold Bartoszewicz.
According to our sub-speakers Poland looses its position of a cheap location and must hurry up to create an image of an attractive place. According to the expert of marketing Anna Proszowska-Sala Polish position in this sector is really weak. "Europeans associate us with the Pope and Walesa, these are beutiful connotations but they do not attract tourists", she said.