This year the Polish Tourism Organisation (POT) Certificates, the tourism industry’s most important award, were presented for the 18th time. Fourteen tourism products received the POT mark of recognition at a gala in Warsaw. The Gold Certificate 2021, dubbed the “tourism Oscar”, went to the Hydropolis Centre for Ecological Education.

The POT Certificate best tourism product competition is a special project aimed at choosing the best tourism products and recommending them to Polish and international tourists. It is a regular element of Poland’s promotion as an attractive tourist destination.

POT Certificates are granted by a committee appointed by the president of the Polish Tourism Organisation. It comprises leading experts in tourism, marketing, and building and promoting tourism products, as well as representatives of academic communities and the media.

The committee is guided by the idea that the certified products will serve as a signpost for tourists. Making tourism choices, everyone wants to be sure they are investing their time and money well.

The latest competition received 49 tourism products as entries complying with the rules, nine entries for the Gold Certificate, and 14 for the Special Certificate. In all, 72 products were entered in the national stage.

The top award — the Gold Certificate — went to the Hydropolis Centre for Ecological Education. This is a unique centre of knowledge about water, combining education with an innovative exhibition format.

The committee also awarded 10 POT Certificates as well as one Special Mention and one Special Certificate.

In addition, the POT president decided to honour the Podlasie Regional Tourism Organisation for its exceptional commitment and active stance in realising the competition’s regional stage.

In a vote held on the National Tourism Portal, internet users chose the Juromania Festival of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland as the best product.

“There is no doubt that the places awarded Polish Tourism Organisation Certificates are the most distinctive tourist attractions on the map of Poland”, commented POT President Rafał Szlachta. “We want them to be explored by domestic tourists, Polish families, as well as international visitors. I encourage everyone to visit the polska.travel website and read about all the recipients. The regions where such certified sites are located can be the perfect holiday or short stay destinations”, he added.

All the certified tourism products will be included in the Polish Tourism Organisation’s special promotional program. In addition, the Gold Certificate comes with a dedicated promotional campaign worth PLN 150,000.

“Holding a POT Certificate means great prestige as well as confirmation of a quality tourism experience. It raises the standing of a tourism product, consolidating its position in the eyes of clients. From a marketing point of view, its impact on any promotional campaign is priceless”, the POT president also said.

The following sites received Polish Tourism Organisation Certificates for Best Tourism Product of 2021:

1. Bajka Pana Kleksa (Professor Inkblot’s Fairy Tale) in Katowice
2. Świetokrzyski Geopark
3. Juromania Festival of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland
4. Kolejkowo (model railway and miniature world exhibition)
5. Museum of Papermaking in Duszniki-Zdrój
6. Poznań Croissant Museum
7. Modlin Fortress
8. Tykocin: Monument of History
9. ZielonyPonton.pl: Adventure on the River San
10. Żywe Muzeum Obwarzanka (Interactive Bagel Museum)

Recipient of a Special Mention:

• Anielskie Ogrody (Angelic Gardens) — organic gardening academy

Recipient of the Special Certificate:

• Underground Olkusz exhibition

Recipient of the Internet Users’ Certificate:

• Juromania Festival of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland

Gold Certificate nominees:

• Bałtów Tourist Complex
• Hydropolis Centre for Ecological Education
• Fairy-Tale Castle (in Moszna)

The Gold Certificate went to:

• Hydropolis Centre for Ecological Education

For more information on the award-winning products, visit polska.travel

Photo: Paweł Wójcik/POT