With domestic tourism recovering, Polish Tourism Organisation launched the “Have a stay safe in Poland” information campaign aimed at, i.a. recognising “hygienically safe venues”. The certificate already distinguishes more than 1,000 accommodations.

According to the latest research commissioned by Polish Tourism Organisation (Polska Organizacja Turystyczna - POT), more than half of all Poles are planning to spend their vacations during the summer holidays. What is particularly positive is that the growing percentage of respondents interested in staying in the country reached the highly impressive level of 82%. The research confirms that safety is a crucial component of planned travels and most tourists (8 out of 10) expect service providers to introduce additional measures designed to increase sanitary safety as a response to the COVID-19 epidemic. To meet these specific needs, POT’s campaign encourages Poles to take special precautions while exploring their homeland and prepares the industry for brand-new challenges. “Hotels, accommodations, restaurants and tourist highlights are now dealing with an entirely new reality. This is why the Ministry of Development partnered up with the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate to prepare safety guidelines for each category of venues operating in the tourism industry. We wish to guarantee all Poles a chance to spend their long-awaited holidays as safely as possible”, said Andrzej Gut-Mostowy, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Development.

To provide Poles with a sense of safety, Polish Tourism Organisation implemented a programme of sanitary self-certification of accommodations. Already more than 1,000 venues from all over the country boast the “Hygienically Safe Venue. We follow the guidelines” certificate. The list of venues declaring that they supply services in accordance with applicable regulations of the Ministry of Development and the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate includes, i.a. agritourism farms, boarding houses and hotels. “We are aware that the safety of tourists and employees of broadly defined tourism industry comes first. This is why the campaign’s website odpoczywajwpolsce.pl features the Safe Travel  (“Bezpieczne podróże”) tab, where tourists will find an interactive map confirming which venues in a given voivodeship have joined the initiative. A campaign promoting the venues in question has been launched through nationwide online portals such as Onet.pl, Wp.pl and Interia.pl. Next week we will begin endorsing them also among foreign tourists - starting with European Union member countries”, added Robert Andrzejczyk, President of Polish Tourism Organisation.

To join the project you need to access bezpiecznyobiekt.pot.gov.pl and fill out a form. The initiative is aimed at all businesses providing accommodation in Poland. Participation is free and optional.