Interview : Pawel Rozen, Meetings Director, Warsaw Tourism Organisation

What are the expectations for tourist arrivals this year, both for Poland and Warsaw?

Pawel Rozen - According to the latest reports, the Poland welcomed 21.16 million international tourists in 2019. In Warsaw alone, this figure reached three million. Lnternational tourists accounted for almost 28 % of the total number of tourists to the capital. Statistics show that in the first and second quarters of 2020, accommodation recorded a fall of 92.8 % compared with 2019. However, it is extremely difficult to forecast a precise number of tourist arrivals this year. The reopening of borders and the resumption of certain international flights since July 1 have led to a slight increase in passenger arrivals this summer. But since September, the government has again banned flights to 40 countries, including France.

How will business tourism and MICE develop?

Pawel Rozen - An analysis prepared by Tourism Economics/Oxford Economics, based on data from the Poland Convention Bureau, shows that 24,400 conventions and events were organised in 2019. This represented 8 million MICE and business visitors, including 4.78 million from abroad.. The Polish congress market generated €1.9 billion in visitor spending in 2019. Depending on the experts' optimistic or pessimistic forecasts, business tourism will fall by between 32 % and 76 % in 2020. This is equivalent to a drop of between three and six million business visitors compared with last year.

Do you see a recovery, however slight?

Pawel Rozen - The recovery is partial, and essentially domestic. The government has offered tourism vouchers to Polish families whose purchasing power has suffered as a result of the pandemic. This subsidy has indirectly helped the tourist industry. The recovery will be slower for business travel, particularly international. According to forecasts, visitor numbers and spending should return to pre-crisis levels by 2022. This is based on an optimistic scenario. In a pessimistic scenario, if the short-term fall in event attendance were to accelerate, this would mean a complete recovery in business tourism by 2023.

What support or financial incentives are available in Poland and Warsaw for companies wishing to organise an event? 

Pawel Rozen - One of the objectives of the Warsaw Convention Bureau is always to attract major conferences, trade fairs and congresses to our capital. To achieve this, we support meeting organisers who are considering coming to Warsaw for their events. Working in synergy with public and private partners, we assess each request individually. The decision on the extent of this support depends on a series of factors. We take into account the resources of the Convention Bureau and its partners. Or we analyse the economic spin-offs, the importance of the content or the image of the event. The terms and conditions of our offer can be found at office website.

How do you work with hotels to attract business travellers?

Pawel Rozen - We are working with hotels to develop a joint offer for international meeting providers. Our aim is to offer safe, low-risk and flexible conditions that encourage business travellers to visit Warsaw. We guarantee that our hotels meet health and safety standards and offer a flexible reservation/cancellation policy. In addition, we offer free site inspections.