The first session of the Social Tourism Board (Społeczna Rada Turystyki) took place on 21 September at Hotel Liburnia in Cieszyn.
The meeting was chaired by Dariusz Rogowski, Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, speaking in the name of Minister Witold Bańka. During the event nominations were presented to two new Board members: Paweł Niewiadomski, President of the Polish Chamber of Tourism (Polska Izba Turystyki), and Wiesław Czerniec, Chairman of the Polish Federation of Rural Tourism “Hospitable Farms” (Polska Federacja Turystyki Wiejskiej Gospodarstwa Gościnne). The participants were also informed about the dismissal of Marek Olszewski, former President of the Polish Tourism Organisation (Polska Organizacja Turystyczna – POT).
At present the Board is composed of 25 members representing the tourism branch. The new Chairman of the Board is Gheorghe Marian Cristescu, Chairman of the Board, Chopin Aiport Development. Minster Bańka appointed Wieslaw Czerniec to the post of Deputy Chairman. The session also dealt with a number of important tourism-related questions and topics, i.a. a draft of an act on tourism events and associated tourism services as well as the possibility of attracting tourists from Asian countries.
In a summary of the meeting Minister Dariusz Rogowski said: ”Tourism is not only the cognitive method of particular countries but, predominantly, an important branch of the economy, and each zloty spent within its range produces economic growth and development”.
